Boeing has announced significant new orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft. The company revealed on Monday that it secured orders for up to 80 of these planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This move comes after Airbus made inroads with these carriers following Boeing’s 737 Max issues earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ continued choice of the 787 Dreamliner as they update their fleet. Japan Airlines has committed to 10 Dreamliners with an option for 10 additional planes. Meanwhile, Korean Air has ordered twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10s, with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This announcement is timely as it coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a prominent event in the aviation industry. The mention of a “long-standing partnership” with Japan Airlines is particularly noteworthy, especially following reports that Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to the carrier earlier this year. This marked a notable shift for Japan Airlines, as it was their first purchase of a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing.
Similarly, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which primarily operates Boeing aircraft. This was perceived as a slight against Boeing’s 777X, which is still awaiting regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, welcomed Korean Air’s selection of Boeing’s wide-body aircraft, emphasizing their significant role in the airline’s operations over the past 50 years. She highlighted that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will help support Korean Air’s sustainability and growth objectives.