Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The planemaker revealed on Monday that it has secured orders for up to 80 aircraft, signaling a competitive response after rival Airbus gained traction with these airlines following issues surrounding Boeing’s 737 Max.
Boeing’s sales operations head, Brad McMullen, expressed appreciation for the long partnership with Japan Airlines, highlighting their choice to continue modernizing their fleet with the 787 Dreamliner. During the Farnborough International Airshow, Japan Airlines confirmed an order for 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air committed to 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 aircraft, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This announcement follows reports from March that Japan Airlines had purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking a significant shift as it was the airline’s first acquisition of a single-aisle jet from a manufacturer other than Boeing. Similarly, Korean Air had previously ordered several wide-body jets from Airbus, potentially signaling a shift in preference at a time when the 777X was facing regulatory delays.
Stephanie Pope, Boeing’s head of commercial airplanes, expressed gratitude to Korean Air for choosing their largest, most efficient planes to expand its network. She noted the longstanding role of Boeing aircraft in Korean Air’s operations over the past 50 years, asserting that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will aid in the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives.