Boeing has secured significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle airplanes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air, with the announcement made on Monday. The company revealed that it has received orders for up to 80 planes, indicating a strong response to recent competition from Airbus, which had made inroads with these airlines following challenges related to Boeing’s 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed appreciation for the longstanding relationship with Japan Airlines, noting their decision to re-select the 787 Dreamliner as part of their fleet modernization efforts. This news coincides with the commencement of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aerospace industry. Japan Airlines has committed to 10 Dreamliners with an option for 10 more, while Korean Air has ordered 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, along with an option for 10 additional 787-10s.
This partnership comes in the wake of a Reuters report in March highlighting that Japan Airlines purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking a shift since it had only previously bought single-aisle planes from Boeing. Airbus had also reportedly sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which primarily operates Boeing aircraft. Analysts suggested these moves could be seen as a competitive setback for Boeing, particularly for its 777x model, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Boeing’s commercial airplanes division head, Stephanie Pope, emphasized the importance of Boeing aircraft in Korean Air’s operations over the past five decades and expressed pride in the selection of the 777X and 787 Dreamliner as key components in the airline’s future sustainability and growth strategies.