Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft, securing commitments for up to 80 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This announcement, made on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, comes after Airbus recently made inroads with these carriers in the wake of the issues surrounding Boeing’s 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s sales operations head, expressed appreciation for the enduring partnership with Japan Airlines, which has ordered 10 Dreamliners with an option for 10 more. Korean Air has committed to 20 models of the 777-9 and 20 of the 787-10, with an option for an additional 10 787-10s.
In March, Reuters reported that Japan Airlines purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking a notable shift as it was the first time the airline acquired a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. This occurred during a period of turmoil for Boeing amid a production slowdown related to the 737 Max scandal.
Bloomberg also reported similar developments with Korean Air, indicating that the airline had recently acquired several wide-body jets from Airbus, which is significant since Boeing jets predominantly make up its fleet. This was seen as a challenge to Boeing’s 777X model, which is still nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, stated that Boeing is honored by Korean Air’s selection of its largest widebody aircraft, emphasizing the long history of collaboration between the two companies that spans five decades. She highlighted that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner would support the airline’s sustainability efforts and growth plans moving forward.