Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes, securing commitments for up to 80 aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This announcement comes as a response to Airbus gaining ground among these carriers following a setback for Boeing involving the 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s sales operations head, expressed gratitude for Japan Airlines’ decision to reaffirm its order of the 787 Dreamliner, emphasizing the strong partnership between the companies amid Japan Airlines’ fleet modernization efforts.
This announcement is timed with the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a pivotal event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners, with the option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has opted for 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, also with the potential to add 10 more 787-10s.
The mention of a “long-standing partnership” highlights a previous report indicating that Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking a significant shift as this was the airline’s first order for a single-aisle plane from a manufacturer other than Boeing. This decision occurred amidst ongoing challenges for Boeing, including significant criticism and a production decrease related to the 737 Max.
Similarly, reports indicated Airbus had also made sales to Korean Air, which primarily operates Boeing aircraft, suggesting a competitive challenge for Boeing with their 777X model still awaiting regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, stated that Korean Air’s choice of Boeing’s wide-body aircraft underscores a longstanding relationship, helping the airline achieve its sustainability and growth objectives over the next decades.