Boeing recently announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft, securing commitments for up to 80 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This announcement comes as a response to Airbus’s earlier gains with these airlines following Boeing’s challenges related to the 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed appreciation for Japan Airlines’ continued partnership with Boeing, particularly as the airline modernizes its fleet. Japan Airlines plans to acquire 10 Dreamliners with an option for 10 additional units.
During the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry, Korean Air also placed orders for 20 units of the 777-9 model and 20 of the 787-10, along with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This order comes on the heels of reports that indicated Japan Airlines had previously purchased 11 Airbus A321neo jets, marking the first time the airline chose a single-aisle aircraft from a competitor. Additionally, there were reports of Korean Air acquiring several Airbus wide-body jets, suggesting a shift in their purchasing strategy.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, affirmed that Boeing’s aircraft have been crucial to Korean Air’s operations over the past five decades, and highlighted that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will play vital roles in the airline’s sustainability and growth efforts.