Boeing recently announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft. The company stated on Monday that it secured commitments from Japan Airlines and Korean Air for up to 80 planes. This comes after Airbus had made inroads with these airlines amid the fallout from the January incident involving Boeing’s 737 Max, indicating that Boeing is actively reclaiming its position in the market.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed gratitude for the ongoing partnership with Japan Airlines, emphasizing the airline’s choice to continue modernizing its fleet with the 787 Dreamliner.
The announcement coincided with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a prominent industry event. Japan Airlines is set to acquire 10 Dreamliners, with the option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has placed orders for twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, also with the option to add 10 more 787-10s.
This announcement reminds the industry of a previous report in March where Airbus secured an order of 11 A321neo jets from Japan Airlines, marking the airline’s first acquisition of a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. This order came at a time when the 737 Max was under scrutiny, contributing to Boeing’s production challenges.
Additionally, reports indicated that Airbus had sold several wide-body aircraft to Korean Air around the same period, which primarily operates Boeing planes. Analysts suggested that this move could be seen as a rejection of the 777X, which is nearing regulatory approval.
In response to Korean Air’s latest order, Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, conveyed her appreciation, stating that the order enhances the airline’s capacity and aligns with their long-term sustainability and growth objectives while acknowledging the historical significance of Boeing aircraft in Korean Air’s operations over the past 50 years.