Boeing has recently announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft, securing commitments for up to 80 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This announcement was made on Monday, indicating that Boeing is actively countering the competition from Airbus, which had previously made inroads with these carriers following issues with Boeing’s 737 Max model.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed appreciation for the partnership with Japan Airlines, emphasizing the airline’s decision to re-select the 787 Dreamliner as part of their fleet modernization efforts.
This announcement comes at the start of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event for the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has placed an order for 10 Dreamliners, with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has committed to purchasing 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
The reference to a “long-standing partnership” highlights previous competitive actions, as reported in March when Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first instance of the airline buying a single-aisle plane from a manufacturer other than Boeing. Similarly, Bloomberg had reported that Airbus sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, who predominantly operates Boeing aircraft, suggesting these moves were a sign of dissatisfaction with Boeing’s offerings amid the turmoil surrounding the 777x’s regulatory progress.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, commented on the orders from Korean Air, noting the significance of Boeing aircraft in supporting the airline’s expansion and sustainability goals, while underscoring a long-term relationship spanning 50 years.