Boeing has announced significant orders for its large aircraft, revealing on Monday that it has secured commitments for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This announcement comes after Airbus had made inroads with these airlines following issues with Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year, indicating that Boeing is actively working to regain its foothold in the market.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s sales operations chief, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines reaffirming its commitment to the 787 Dreamliner as part of the airline’s fleet modernization efforts. Japan Airlines will acquire 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has placed an order for 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, along with an option for 10 more 787-10 aircraft.
This move comes on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, an important event in the aviation industry’s calendar. The announcements also echo a report from March when Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking its first purchase of a single-aisle jet from a manufacturer outside of Boeing. The A321neo competes directly with the 737 Max, which was experiencing significant difficulties at that time.
Additionally, reports from Bloomberg highlighted that Airbus had sold wide-body jets to Korean Air, signaling a shift in the airline’s predominantly Boeing fleet. Boeing’s 777X, which is nearing regulatory approval, is seen as a competitor in this space.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, remarked on the honor of Korean Air selecting Boeing’s largest and most efficient widebody planes for its global operations. She noted that Boeing aircraft have been essential to Korean Air for the past 50 years and that the introduction of the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will support the airline’s long-term sustainability and growth objectives.