Boeing recently announced significant orders for its large aircraft models. On Monday, the company revealed that it had secured orders for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This development comes after French competitor Airbus made inroads with the airlines following the 737 Max door plug incident in January, indicating that Boeing is making a strong comeback.
“We value our long-standing partnership with Japan Airlines and are pleased that they have re-selected the 787 Dreamliner as they continue to modernize their world-class fleet,” said Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations.
The announcement was made on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a major industry trade event. Japan Airlines will be purchasing 10 Dreamliners with options for 10 more. Korean Air has committed to twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, with options for an additional 10 787-10s.
The long-standing partnership mentioned refers to a Reuters report from March, which noted that Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first time the airline had purchased a single-aisle plane from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo directly competes with the 737 Max, which at that time was dealing with scandal and production slowdowns.
Similarly, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, where the majority of the fleet consists of Boeing planes. The report suggested this order was a slight to the 777x, which is nearing regulatory approval.
“We are honored that Korean Air has selected our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to its global network,” said Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division. “Boeing airplanes have been an integral part of Korean Air’s fleet for the past 50 years, and the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will continue to support the airline’s long-term goals for sustainability and growth.”