Boeing recently announced major orders for its large aircraft, indicating a strong response to competition from Airbus. On Monday, the company revealed it had secured commitments for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This comes in the wake of Airbus successfully selling aircraft to these carriers after issues with Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to re-select the 787 Dreamliner as part of its fleet modernization plans. The announcement coincided with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, an important event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners with an option to purchase 10 additional units, while Korean Air has placed an order for 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This development highlights a significant shift, as it marks Japan Airlines’ first acquisition of a single-aisle aircraft, the A321neo, from Airbus, as reported in March. In tandem with this, Korean Air’s recent orders included several wide-body jets from Airbus, a move interpreted as a competitive stance against Boeing’s 777x, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed appreciation for Korean Air’s selection of Boeing’s most efficient wide-body aircraft, emphasizing the longstanding relationship with the airline and highlighting their shared goals of sustainability and growth.