Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This announcement, made on Monday, reveals orders for up to 80 planes, signaling that Boeing is actively competing after losing ground to Airbus amidst the fallout from the 737 Max situation earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to continue enhancing its fleet with the 787 Dreamliner, highlighting the value of their longstanding partnership.
This announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aerospace industry. Japan Airlines has committed to purchasing 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has ordered 20 models of the 777-9 and 20 787-10 planes, with the option for 10 more 787-10s.
The mention of a “long-standing partnership” references a Reuters report from March, noting that Japan Airlines had previously acquired 11 A321neo jets from Airbus — marking its first purchase of a single-aisle jet from a competitor to Boeing. This move was made against the backdrop of the ongoing issues with the 737 Max.
Similarly, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had secured several orders for wide-body jets from Korean Air at that time, indicating a shift in the airline’s acquisition strategy, which has predominantly favored Boeing aircraft.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, emphasized the honor of Korean Air choosing Boeing’s largest and most efficient widebody aircraft to enhance its global operations. She highlighted the airline’s long history with Boeing over the past 50 years, affirming that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will play crucial roles in Korean Air’s sustainability and growth objectives.