Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The aircraft manufacturer revealed on Monday that it secured orders for up to 80 units from these major Asian carriers, a move signaling its resurgence after facing competition from French rival Airbus during a recent customer shift.
Brad McMullen, who oversees Boeing’s sales operations, expressed the company’s appreciation for Japan Airlines’ continued partnership, highlighting their decision to choose the 787 Dreamliner as they enhance their fleet.
This announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aerospace industry. Japan Airlines has placed an order for 10 Dreamliners, with the option for 10 more, while Korean Air has ordered twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, also with the possibility of adding 10 more 787-10s.
The mention of a “long-standing partnership” is notable as it follows a report from March indicating that Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first time the airline procured a single-aisle plane from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo competes directly with Boeing’s 737 Max, which was still faced with challenges due to safety concerns and a production slowdown.
Furthermore, during the same period, Airbus reportedly secured several wide-body jet orders from Korean Air, which predominantly operates Boeing planes. This decision was interpreted as a potential slight against Boeing’s 777X model, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, stated that the company is honored by Korean Air’s choice in selecting its most efficient widebody aircraft to bolster their global network. She emphasized the longstanding collaboration between Boeing and Korean Air over the past five decades, affirming that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will aid in the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives.