Boeing has recently secured significant orders for its large aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The American aerospace giant announced on Monday that it had received orders for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 wide-body planes. This development follows French competitor Airbus making inroads with these airlines after Boeing’s 737 Max door plug incident in January, signaling that Boeing is determined to retain its market share.
“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 significant event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners with an option for 10 more, while Korean Air has committed to purchasing twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, also with an option for 10 additional 787-10s.
The deal references a Reuters report from March highlighting that Japan Airlines had purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, a direct competitor to Boeing’s 737 Max. This marked the first time Japan Airlines had bought single-aisle planes from a company other than Boeing amidst the 737 Max’s production issues.
Similarly, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, with Boeing planes already making up most of the airline’s fleet. This was viewed as a slight to Boeing’s 777x, as it was nearing regulatory approval at the time.
“We are honored 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 played an integral role with Korean Air over the past 50 years, and the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will continue to support the airline’s long-term goals for sustainability and continued growth.”