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 during the fallout from the January incident involving Boeing’s 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed appreciation for the ongoing partnership with Japan Airlines, highlighting their choice of the 787 Dreamliner as part of their fleet modernization efforts.
These developments were revealed on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has placed orders for twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, including an option for 10 more of the latter.
The reference to a “long-standing partnership” comes in light of previous reports indicating that Japan Airlines had purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking a significant shift as it had not previously sourced single-aisle aircraft from anyone other than Boeing. Similarly, reports suggested that Airbus secured sales of wide-body jets to Korean Air, a move perceived as a rejection of Boeing’s 777X, which is still awaiting regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed honor that Korean Air chose Boeing’s largest and most efficient wide-body models, emphasizing the longstanding relationship and the pivotal role Boeing aircraft have played in the airline’s operations for over five decades. She noted that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner align with Korean Air’s sustainability and growth objectives.