Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft, securing commitments from Japan Airlines and Korean Air for up to 80 planes. This announcement comes as a response to previous market share gains by its competitor, Airbus, following issues with Boeing’s 737 Max aircraft.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to continue their partnership by selecting the 787 Dreamliner for their fleet modernization.
The announcement was made on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, an important event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has committed to purchasing 10 Dreamliners, with an option for 10 additional aircraft, while Korean Air has ordered twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This renewed interest comes after reports from March indicated that Japan Airlines had purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking a shift in their purchase strategy as they had not previously acquired single-aisle jets from any manufacturer but Boeing. Additionally, it was reported that Korean Air had also turned to Airbus for several wide-body jets during a period when the Boeing 777x was facing delays in regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, reaffirmed the importance of their long-standing relationship with Korean Air, stating that the new aircraft would play a vital role in the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives.