Boeing has made significant strides in securing orders for its major aircraft models, announcing on Monday that it has received orders for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This move comes in response to Airbus’s earlier successes in landing orders from these carriers amid Boeing’s challenges, particularly related to the 737 Max issues.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed appreciation for the continued partnership with Japan Airlines, highlighting their selection of the 787 Dreamliner in efforts to modernize their fleet.
This announcement coincides with the opening of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has committed to 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has ordered 20 units of the 777-9 model and 20 787-10 planes, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
The mention of “long-standing partnership” echoes a recent report where Airbus secured an order of 11 A321neo jets from Japan Airlines, marking a shift as it was the first time they purchased a single-aisle plane from a manufacturer other than Boeing. This occurred amidst ongoing challenges for Boeing, including a significant production slowdown due to earlier scandals.
Similarly, reports indicated that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, a decision viewed as a potential slight to Boeing’s 777x model, which is currently nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude for Korean Air’s selection of Boeing’s wide-body aircraft to enhance its global network capacity, emphasizing the long-term relationship between the airline and Boeing that has lasted over 50 years. She stated that both the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will play vital roles in supporting Korean Air’s sustainability and growth objectives.