Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air, totaling up to 80 planes. This announcement was made on Monday, indicating that Boeing is responding proactively after French competitor Airbus gained ground among these carriers following issues with the Boeing 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s sales operations chief, expressed appreciation for the enduring relationship with Japan Airlines, highlighting their decision to choose the 787 Dreamliner to modernize their fleet. This announcement coincides with the opening of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry.
Japan Airlines has committed to acquiring 10 Dreamliners with the option for 10 additional units, while Korean Air has placed an order for 20 of the 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
The reference to a “long-standing partnership” comes in light of Airbus’s earlier sale of 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines reported in March, marking the airline’s first purchase of a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. This shift occurred amid ongoing troubles for Boeing with the 737 Max, leading to significant production slowdowns.
Additionally, at the same time, Korean Air had also reportedly acquired several wide-body jets from Airbus, which was seen as a move away from Boeing as the airline’s fleet has predominantly featured Boeing aircraft. Boeing responded to this latest order from Korean Air with gratitude, emphasizing the importance of its planes to the airline over the past 50 years and their role in supporting Korean Air’s sustainability and growth objectives.