Boeing has revealed significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft. The company announced on Monday that Japan Airlines and Korean Air have secured orders totaling up to 80 planes. This comes after a period when Boeing faced increased competition from French rival Airbus, especially following a setback with the Boeing 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed appreciation for the continued partnership with Japan Airlines, highlighting their choice to renew orders for the 787 Dreamliner as they aim to upgrade their fleet.
This announcement coincides with the opening of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has committed to 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has ordered 20 of the 777-9 models and 20 787-10 aircraft, with an option to add 10 more 787-10s.
These recent orders underscore a notable shift, as earlier reports indicated that Japan Airlines had purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking its first acquisition of a single-aisle aircraft from a non-Boeing source. Additionally, there were indications that Airbus had made sales of wide-body jets to Korean Air, suggesting competition is heating up as the 777x approaches regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, voiced her gratitude to Korean Air for selecting Boeing’s advanced widebody aircraft to enhance their global operations. She emphasized the long-standing relationship between Boeing and Korean Air, stating that the new orders align with the airline’s objectives for sustainability and growth.