Boeing has 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 move comes in response to competitor Airbus, which had gained ground during the fallout from a January incident involving Boeing’s 737 Max.
Boeing’s sales operations head, Brad McMullen, expressed appreciation for the company’s long-standing relationship with Japan Airlines, which has opted for 10 Dreamliners with the option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has placed an order for 20 units each of the 777-9 and 787-10 models, with the option to add 10 more 787-10s.
This announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry calendar. The recent dealings reflect a competitive landscape as Japan Airlines previously purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking its first acquisition of a single-aisle plane from a competitor. Similarly, there have been indications that Korean Air has also turned to Airbus for several wide-body jets, a notable shift given Boeing’s long-standing dominance in the airline’s fleet.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, emphasized the importance of the 777X and 787 Dreamliner in supporting Korean Air’s growth and sustainability objectives, highlighting the decades-long partnership between the two companies.