Boeing has made significant strides in securing orders for its major aircraft, announcing on Monday that it has landed commitments for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This comes in response to rival Airbus, which had recently made inroads with these carriers following issues related to Boeing’s 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed gratitude towards Japan Airlines, 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 coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners, with an option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has committed to 20 777-9 and 20 787-10 models, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This news harkens back to a report from Reuters in March, which noted that Airbus had sold 11 of its A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first time the airline had purchased a single-aisle plane from anyone other than Boeing. The A321neo competes directly with the 737 Max, which was facing significant scrutiny and production delays at the time.
Furthermore, Bloomberg also reported that Airbus had secured several wide-body jet orders from Korean Air, which primarily operates Boeing aircraft. This was perceived as a move against Boeing’s 777x, which is approaching regulatory clearance.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, commented, “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.”