Boeing has 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 move comes as a response to French competitor Airbus, which had started to gain traction with these carriers following an incident involving Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed appreciation for the partnership with Japan Airlines, noting their decision to select the 787 Dreamliner as part of their fleet modernization efforts. During the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, Japan Airlines confirmed an order for 10 Dreamliners, with the option to acquire 10 additional units. Meanwhile, Korean Air has committed to purchasing twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, along with an option for another 10 787-10s.
This announcement highlights Boeing’s efforts to reclaim market presence after Airbus secured an order of 11 single-aisle A321neo jets from Japan Airlines in March, marking the first instance of the airline purchasing from a manufacturer other than Boeing for this category. Additionally, reports indicated that Airbus had also sold wide-body jets to Korean Air, a notable shift considering the airline’s predominantly Boeing fleet.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude towards Korean Air for selecting Boeing’s latest widebody aircraft, emphasizing the long-standing relationship between the two entities and the role Boeing planes have played in the airline’s operations for the past five decades. She highlighted that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will support the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives moving forward.