Boeing has announced significant new orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The announcement came on Monday, revealing that Japan Airlines will purchase 10 Dreamliners, with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has ordered 20 units of the 777-9 model and 20 of the 787-10, with an option for another 10 787-10s.
This development follows a competitive period after Airbus gained traction in the region, particularly during the fallout from the Boeing 737 Max incident earlier this year. Boeing’s recent bookings indicate the company’s efforts to regain its foothold in the market.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed appreciation for the ongoing relationship 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.”
The announcement was made on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry.
Earlier this year, Japan Airlines made headlines by purchasing 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking the first time it acquired a single-aisle plane from a competitor other than Boeing. Additionally, Bloomberg previously reported that Korea Air had ordered several wide-body jets from Airbus, which was interpreted as a slight against Boeing’s 777x model.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, commented on the recent orders from Korean Air, saying, “We are honored Korean Air has selected our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to its global network.” She added that Boeing aircraft have played a crucial role in Korean Air’s operations for the past 50 years, emphasizing that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will aid in the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives.