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 had secured orders for up to 80 of these planes. This move comes after Airbus made inroads with these carriers following issues with Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year, indicating that Boeing is actively responding to competitive challenges.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed appreciation for the continued partnership with Japan Airlines, highlighting that they have chosen the 787 Dreamliner for their fleet modernization.
The announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a prominent event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has committed to purchasing 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has ordered twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, also with the option for 10 more 787-10s.
This announcement brings to mind a report from March stating that Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first instance in which the airline bought single-aisle planes from someone other than Boeing. The A321neo is a competitor to the 737 Max, which was struggling under a cloud of controversy at that time, resulting in substantial production slowdowns.
Similarly, it was reported that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which predominantly utilizes Boeing aircraft. This order was interpreted as a slight to Boeing’s 777X, which was nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, the head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude to Korean Air for selecting their latest and most efficient wide-body jets. She noted that Boeing aircraft have been essential to Korean Air for the past five decades and emphasized that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will contribute to the airline’s long-term sustainability and growth objectives.