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 has secured orders for up to 80 of these planes. This development comes after Airbus made inroads with these airlines during the fallout from Boeing’s 737 Max issues earlier this year, indicating that Boeing is responding to the competitive pressure.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed the company’s satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to continue using the 787 Dreamliner as they upgrade their fleet.
These announcements were made at the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has committed to purchasing 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has placed an order for twenty 777-9 jets and twenty 787-10 planes, with an option to acquire 10 more of the latter.
The reference to their “long-standing partnership” follows a report from March indicating that Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines. This marked a significant shift, as it was the first time Japan Airlines ordered a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing, particularly during ongoing challenges for the 737 Max and production delays.
Separately, there were reports that Airbus also sold multiple wide-body jets to Korean Air, which has predominantly operated Boeing aircraft. This move was seen as a slight to Boeing’s 777X model, which is still awaiting regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude towards Korean Air for selecting their widebody aircraft to enhance its global operations. She noted that Boeing has been instrumental in supporting Korean Air’s operations for the past five decades, with the new 777X and 787 Dreamliner aligning with the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives.