Boeing has announced significant new orders for some of its largest aircraft, revealing on Monday that it has secured commitments for up to 80 units of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This comes as a response to recent gains by French competitor Airbus, who had made inroads with these carriers after the issues stemming from Boeing’s 737 Max.
Boeing’s head of sales operations, Brad McMullen, expressed his appreciation for the partnership with Japan Airlines, stating that the airline has chosen the 787 Dreamliner as part of its fleet modernization efforts.
This news coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, an important event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has secured orders for 10 Dreamliners with an option for 10 additional units. Korean Air has ordered twenty 777-9 models as well as twenty 787-10 planes, also with the option for 10 more 787-10s.
The mention of a “long-standing partnership” is significant, especially considering reports from March indicating that Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, highlighting a shift as it marked the first time Japan Airlines purchased a single-aisle plane from a manufacturer other than Boeing. Concurrently, there were reports of Airbus selling multiple wide-body jets to Korean Air, which has primarily relied on Boeing for its fleet.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, noted the importance of these aircraft to Korean Air’s aspirations, stating the selection of the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will support the airline’s long-term growth and sustainability goals.