Boeing has announced significant orders for its large aircraft, gaining commitments for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This comes after Airbus made gains amidst Boeing’s previous issues with the 737 Max. The orders indicate Boeing’s resilience in the competitive aerospace market.
“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,” stated Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations.
This announcement was made during the Farnborough International Airshow, a key industry event. Japan Airlines has committed to 10 Dreamliners with an option for 10 more. Korean Air has ordered twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, with an option for an additional ten 787-10s.
Boeing’s reference to its longstanding partnership with Japan Airlines follows a Reuters report from March regarding Airbus selling 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first time Japan Airlines opted for a single-aisle plane from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo competes directly with Boeing’s 737 Max, which was then embroiled in scandal and production issues.
Similarly, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, whose fleet is primarily composed of Boeing planes, suggesting a slight against Boeing’s 777x, which is nearing regulatory approval.
“We are honored Korean Air has selected our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to its global network,” stated 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.”