Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The planemaker revealed on Monday that it secured orders for up to 80 aircraft, signaling its strong competitive position after French rival Airbus had previously garnered attention from these airlines due to Boeing’s issues with the 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed appreciation for the long-standing partnership with Japan Airlines, noting their decision to select the 787 Dreamliner again as they upgrade their fleet. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has committed to purchasing 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This announcement coincides with the start of the Farnborough International Airshow, a prominent global industry event. The orders come as a response to a report from March indicating that Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first time the airline acquired a single-aisle plane from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo competes directly with the 737 Max, which was dealing with a production slowdown amid a scandal.
Additionally, reports from Bloomberg earlier indicated that Airbus also sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which has predominantly operated Boeing aircraft. This move was seen as a rebuff to Boeing’s 777x, which is nearing regulatory approval.
In a statement, Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude to Korean Air for choosing Boeing’s most efficient widebody aircraft, stating that Boeing planes are foundational to Korean Air’s operations over the past 50 years. She affirmed that both the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will aid the airline’s long-term sustainability and growth objectives.