Boeing has announced significant new orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. On Monday, the planemaker indicated that it has secured orders for as many as 80 of these planes. This move comes in response to Airbus’s earlier gains with these airlines following the complications faced by Boeing’s 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to re-select the 787 Dreamliner as they work to upgrade their fleet, emphasizing the importance of their long-standing partnership.
This announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners with the option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has committed to purchasing twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, along with an option for 10 more of the 787-10s.
The reference to a “long-standing partnership” brings to mind a prior report that revealed Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first acquisition of a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. This transaction took place against the backdrop of ongoing issues with the 737 Max, which was tied to a significant scandal and a slowdown in production.
Similarly, reports indicated that Airbus made sales of several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which primarily operates Boeing aircraft, suggesting that their orders represented a challenge to the 777x, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed her honor at Korean Air’s choice of their largest and most fuel-efficient widebody planes to enhance its global network. She noted that Boeing aircraft have been crucial to Korean Air for the past five decades, and the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will play key roles in the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives moving forward.