Boeing has announced significant new orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft. On Monday, the company revealed that it has secured orders for up to 80 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This development comes after Airbus had made gains with these carriers during the earlier challenges faced by Boeing, particularly related to the 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, who oversees Boeing’s sales operations, expressed appreciation for the long-standing partnership with Japan Airlines, highlighting their decision to continue modernizing their fleet with the 787 Dreamliner. Japan Airlines will take delivery of 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10. Concurrently, Korean Air has committed to acquiring 20 of the 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, also with the option for 10 more 787-10s.
This announcement coincides with the commencement of the Farnborough International Airshow, a significant event for the aviation industry. The orders mark a response to previous moves by Airbus; a report in March indicated that Japan Airlines had purchased 11 A321neo jets from the European manufacturer, marking a shift from its traditional sourcing of single-aisle jets solely from Boeing.
Additionally, there were reports that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which predominantly operates Boeing aircraft. This order was perceived as a challenge to Boeing’s 777X, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, the head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, remarked on Korean Air’s selection of Boeing’s aircraft, emphasizing that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will contribute to the airline’s sustainability efforts and growth objectives over the coming years.