Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft. The company revealed on Monday that it secured orders for up to 80 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air, signaling a robust response to competition from Airbus, which had recently gained some ground during Boeing’s challenges with the 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed satisfaction with the orders, stating, “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.”
The announcement coincided with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines will acquire 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has placed an order for 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, including an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This announcement follows a Reuters report from March, which highlighted Airbus selling 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines—the first instance of the airline obtaining single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo is a competitor to the 737 Max, which was embroiled in a major scandal and experiencing production delays at that time.
Additionally, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had also secured orders for several wide-body jets from Korean Air, a carrier predominantly operating Boeing planes. This was viewed as a potential slight against Boeing’s 777x, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, commented on the Korean Air orders, stating, “We are honored Korean Air has selected our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to its global network. 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.”