Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The planemaker revealed on Monday that it has secured orders for up to 80 planes, signaling a strong response after Airbus made inroads with these carriers during previous disruptions related to the 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed appreciation for Japan Airlines’ decision to continue their partnership by selecting the 787 Dreamliner as part of their fleet modernization efforts.
The announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key industry event. Japan Airlines has committed to purchasing 10 Dreamliners, with an option for an additional 10. Korean Air has ordered 20 models of the 777-9 and 20 of the 787-10, also with the option for 10 more 787-10s.
This development highlights Boeing’s ongoing competition with Airbus, particularly following reports in March that Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking a notable shift as it was the first single-aisle order from a non-Boeing manufacturer. Additionally, reports indicated that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, traditionally a Boeing customer, which was seen as a challenge to Boeing’s 777x.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, stated her honor at Korean Air’s order of Boeing’s largest and most efficient widebody airplanes. She emphasized the critical role Boeing has played in Korean Air’s operations for the past 50 years, asserting that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will align with the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives.