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 development comes after Airbus gained ground with these carriers during Boeing’s recent challenges linked to the 737 Max incident in January, indicating that Boeing is actively countering the competition.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed appreciation for the partnership with Japan Airlines, noting their decision to continue using the 787 Dreamliner as part of their fleet modernization. On the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, Japan Airlines confirmed an order for 10 Dreamliners, with an option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air placed orders for 20 of the 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, with the possibility of acquiring 10 more 787-10s.
This transition is noteworthy given a Reuters report from March, which highlighted that Japan Airlines purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus—the first instance of the airline selecting a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo competes directly with the 737 Max, which was facing production slowdowns due to ongoing issues.
Additionally, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air during the same period, which predominantly operates Boeing aircraft. This order was perceived as a blow to Boeing and its 777X model, which is still in the process of obtaining regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed pride that Korean Air has chosen Boeing’s largest and most efficient widebody aircraft to enhance its global operations. She highlighted the longstanding relationship between Boeing and Korean Air, emphasizing how the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will help the airline achieve its sustainability and growth objectives.