Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. On Monday, the aerospace giant revealed that it had secured commitments for up to 80 planes from these two carriers. This move comes after Airbus had made inroads with these airlines following issues related to Boeing’s 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed his satisfaction about Japan Airlines’ decision to continue with the 787 Dreamliner amid their fleet modernization efforts.
These announcements were made at the outset of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines is set to acquire 10 Dreamliners, with an option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has placed an order for 20 of the 777-9 models and 20 of the 787-10 planes, also including an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This development highlights a competitive landscape, as earlier in the year, Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines—its first purchase of a single-aisle aircraft from any manufacturer other than Boeing. This occurred amid ongoing turbulence for Boeing, specifically pertaining to the 737 Max.
Additionally, reports indicated that Airbus had also secured orders for wide-body jets from Korean Air, which traditionally has a Boeing-dominated fleet, signaling a noteworthy shift in the market dynamics.
In response to the latest orders, Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, emphasized the importance of the 777X and 787 Dreamliner in enhancing Korean Air’s global network capacity, marking over 50 years of collaboration between the two companies focused on sustainability and growth.