Boeing has announced significant orders for its large aircraft, securing contracts for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This move comes as a response to Airbus gaining traction among these airlines in the wake of complications surrounding Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines re-selecting the Dreamliner for its fleet modernization, emphasizing the longstanding partnership between the two companies.
The announcement was made on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a prominent event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines plans to acquire 10 Dreamliners, with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has placed orders for 20 models of the 777-9 and 20 of the 787-10, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
These orders follow reports from earlier this year indicating that Airbus had successfully sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first time the airline procured a single-aisle jet from a manufacturer other than Boeing. Amid the issues facing the 737 Max, this was seen as a competitive move in the market.
In a similar vein, Bloomberg reported Airbus had supplied several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which predominantly operates Boeing aircraft. This was interpreted as a challenge to Boeing’s 777x, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, thanked Korean Air for selecting Boeing’s largest widebody aircraft to enhance its global operations. She highlighted the crucial role Boeing has played in Korean Air’s success over the past five decades, noting that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner align with the airline’s long-term sustainability and growth objectives.