Boeing has announced significant orders for its flagship aircraft, securing commitments for up to 80 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This development comes after Airbus made inroads with these carriers following a setback for Boeing earlier this year related to the 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed appreciation for the ongoing partnership with Japan Airlines, highlighting their decision to continue updating their fleet with the 787 Dreamliner. Japan Airlines will acquire 10 Dreamliners, with the option for 10 additional units.
At the same time, Korean Air is set to order 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, also with the possibility of adding 10 more 787-10s.
This announcement coincides with the start of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. The renewed orders from both airlines may be seen as a response to prior orders made to Airbus; notably, Japan Airlines had recently acquired 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking a shift in its usual purchasing patterns. Meanwhile, Korean Air had also ordered several wide-body jets from Airbus, which was perceived as a threat to Boeing’s dominance in the region.
Stephanie Pope, leader of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed pride in Korean Air’s selection of Boeing’s latest models, emphasizing the historical importance of Boeing aircraft in the airline’s operations and their alignment with Korean Air’s sustainability goals for future growth.