Boeing has announced significant orders for its major aircraft, securing commitments for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This news comes as Boeing responds to competitive pressures from Airbus, which had previously made inroads with these airlines following issues with Boeing’s 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed appreciation for the ongoing partnership with Japan Airlines, noting their decision to select the 787 Dreamliner as they work to modernize their fleet. This announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aerospace industry.
Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has ordered 20 of the 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This development follows earlier reports indicating that Japan Airlines placed an order for 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking a shift in purchasing from Boeing for single-aisle aircraft amidst lingering problems with the 737 Max. Similarly, reports indicated that Airbus sold wide-body jets to Korean Air, which primarily operates a Boeing-dominant fleet, signaling a challenge to Boeing’s market share with the 777X, a model nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed honor that Korean Air chose Boeing’s efficient wide-body planes to enhance its global network, highlighting the longstanding collaboration between the two companies over the past five decades.