Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft, securing commitments from Japan Airlines and Korean Air for up to 80 planes. This development comes as a response to rival Airbus making inroads into these carriers after the complications stemming from the Boeing 737 Max earlier this year.
In a statement, Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed appreciation for the ongoing partnership with Japan Airlines, which has opted for 10 Dreamliners with the possibility of adding another 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has ordered 20 models of the 777-9 and 20 of the 787-10, with an option for an additional 10 more 787-10s.
These orders come as the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event for the aviation industry, kicks off. This announcement also follows a Reuters report from March indicating that Japan Airlines had made its first purchase of A321neo jets from Airbus, marking a shift in its buying patterns away from Boeing. Similarly, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had secured orders for wide-body jets from Korean Air, which has traditionally favored Boeing aircraft.
In her comments, Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, highlighted the long-standing relationship with Korean Air over the past five decades, asserting that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will play crucial roles in the airline’s sustainability and growth strategies.