Boeing recently announced significant orders for its largest aircraft models, revealing on Monday that it secured commitments for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This comes after Airbus made inroads with these carriers during the fallout from the January incident involving Boeing’s 737 Max.
Boeing’s head of sales operations, Brad McMullen, expressed appreciation for the enduring partnership with Japan Airlines, stating that they were delighted the airline had chosen the 787 Dreamliner as part of their fleet modernization efforts.
This announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key industry event. Japan Airlines is set to acquire 10 Dreamliners, with the option for 10 additional units. Meanwhile, Korean Air has ordered twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 jets, with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
The mention of a “long-standing partnership” is notable, especially considering a Reuters report from March that indicated Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first acquisition of a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo competes with the 737 Max, which was grappling with a significant scandal and production slowdowns during that period.
Additionally, Bloomberg had reported earlier that Airbus secured several wide-body orders from Korean Air, which predominantly operates Boeing aircraft. This was perceived as a slight against the 777x model, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, stated her honor at Korean Air’s choice of Boeing’s largest and most efficient widebody aircraft to enhance its global operations. She emphasized that Boeing planes have been crucial to Korean Air for over half a century, and the 777X and 787 Dreamliner would help the airline achieve its sustainability and growth objectives.