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 development comes after rival Airbus had made inroads with these carriers during the aftermath of the Boeing 737 Max production issues that surfaced earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed satisfaction with the renewed partnership with Japan Airlines, stating, “We value our long-standing partnership with Japan Airlines and are pleased that they have re-selected the 787 Dreamliner as they continue to modernize their world-class fleet.”
These announcements were made on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a significant event in the aviation sector. Japan Airlines has placed an order for 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has committed to 20 of the 777-9 models and 20 787-10 airplanes, with the option to add 10 more 787-10s.
The mention of a “long-standing partnership” recalls a March report from Reuters that stated Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines. This marked the airline’s first purchase of a single-aisle plane from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo is a competitor to the 737 Max, which has been facing challenges including a production slowdown.
Additionally, Bloomberg highlighted that Airbus had also sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which predominantly operates Boeing aircraft. This move was interpreted as a potential disregard for the 777x model, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, remarked, “We are honored Korean Air has selected our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to its global network. Boeing airplanes have played an integral role with Korean Air over the past 50 years, and the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will continue to support the airline’s long-term goals for sustainability and continued growth.”