Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. On Monday, the company revealed that it had secured orders for up to 80 planes, indicating that it is actively reclaiming its market position following competition from Airbus, which had recently gained traction with these carriers.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s sales operations head, expressed appreciation for the ongoing partnership with Japan Airlines, highlighting that the airline has chosen to continue modernizing its fleet with the 787 Dreamliner.
This announcement coincides with the opening of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aerospace industry. Japan Airlines has confirmed an order for 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has ordered 20 models of the 777-9 and 20 of the 787-10, with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
The emphasis on a “long-standing partnership” reflects a recent report detailing Airbus’s sale of 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the airline’s first venture into single-aisle planes from a manufacturer other than Boeing. This was notable as the A321neo competes directly with the 737 Max, which was experiencing production issues and facing scrutiny at that time.
Furthermore, there were reports of Airbus selling several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which has historically operated a Boeing-dominated fleet. These moves were perceived as a challenge to the 777X, a model nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, the head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude to Korean Air for selecting their largest and most efficient wide-body airplanes, emphasizing Boeing’s long-standing relationship with the airline and the role of the 777X and 787 Dreamliner in supporting its future growth and sustainability objectives.