Boeing has recently announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft, securing commitments for up to 80 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This development comes after competitor Airbus managed to steal orders during Boeing’s challenges related to the 737 Max earlier this year, indicating that Boeing is actively countering market incursions.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to select the 787 Dreamliner again as part of its fleet modernization. This announcement coincided with the opening of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry.
Japan Airlines has committed to purchasing 10 Dreamliners, with an option to acquire an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has placed an order for 20 of the 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, also with the option for 10 more 787-10s.
This partnership resonates with a Reuters report from March, which noted that Airbus had made its first sale of single-aisle aircraft to Japan Airlines, acquiring 11 A321neo jets. This purchase occurred during a turbulent period for Boeing, amid the ongoing fallout from the 737 Max production issues.
Bloomberg also reported that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which predominantly operates Boeing aircraft. This order was seen as a slight to Boeing’s 777X, which has only recently approached regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, acknowledged the long-standing relationship between Boeing and Korean Air, highlighting that the newly ordered 777X and 787 Dreamliner would aid the airline in achieving its sustainability and growth objectives.