Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This announcement comes as a response to rival Airbus gaining ground during the fallout from the January incident involving the 737 Max. The manufacturer stated on Monday that it secured orders for up to 80 planes.
In a statement, Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed appreciation for Japan Airlines’ decision to continue its long-standing partnership with Boeing by selecting the 787 Dreamliner to modernize its fleet.
This announcement coincides with the opening 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 committed to 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, along with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
The context of these orders is significant, recalling a Reuters report from March that indicated Japan Airlines had purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking a departure from its traditional sole supplier of single-aisle planes. At that time, the A321neo was in direct competition with the 737 Max, which was embroiled in controversy and facing production challenges.
Similarly, Bloomberg had reported that Airbus sold wide-body jets to Korean Air amid a fleet primarily composed of Boeing aircraft, signaling a potential shift in partnerships. In response to Korean Air’s latest orders, Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed Boeing’s commitment to supporting the airline’s growth and sustainability goals over the next 50 years with their aircraft.