Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The company revealed on Monday that it has secured orders for up to 80 planes, signaling a robust response to competition from Airbus following a challenging period involving the 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to continue its long-standing partnership and select the 787 Dreamliner to enhance its fleet.
The announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has committed to 10 Dreamliners, with an option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has ordered a total of 40 aircraft, comprising 20 models of the 777-9 and 20 of the 787-10, along with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This renewed collaboration comes in the wake of previous reports indicating that Airbus had made inroads with both Japanese and Korean carriers. Earlier in the year, Japan Airlines had acquired 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking a shift as it had previously only sourced single-aisle planes from Boeing. Additionally, reports suggested that Korean Air procured several wide-body jets from Airbus, which some analysts viewed as a slight to Boeing’s 777x model, still awaiting regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, acknowledged Korean Air’s commitment to Boeing’s aircraft, highlighting their historical partnership and the role of the 777X and 787 Dreamliner in supporting the airline’s sustainability initiatives and growth objectives.