Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft, securing commitments for up to 80 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This move comes as a response to recent encroachments by rival Airbus, which had gained ground with these airlines following the turbulence surrounding Boeing’s 737 Max issues earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed appreciation for the longstanding relationship with Japan Airlines, noting their decision to continue with the 787 Dreamliner as part of their fleet modernization efforts.
This announcement coincides with the commencement of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has opted for 10 Dreamliners, with an additional option for 10 more. Korean Air has ordered twenty of the new 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 jets, along with the option for 10 additional 787-10s.
The mention of a “long-standing partnership” recalls reports earlier this year indicating that Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first instance of them purchasing single-aisle aircraft from a competitor. The A321neo directly competes with the 737 Max, which has faced extensive scrutiny and production challenges.
Similarly, Bloomberg noted that Airbus also sold wide-body jets to Korean Air, which has predominantly operated Boeing aircraft. This was interpreted as a setback for Boeing’s 777X, which is approaching regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, celebrated Korean Air’s choice of Boeing’s latest and most efficient wide-body models, emphasizing their historical role in the airline’s growth over the past five decades and their alignment with the airline’s sustainability and expansion objectives.