Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The aircraft manufacturer revealed on Monday that it has secured orders for up to 80 of these models. This comes in response to earlier competition from Airbus, which had made inroads with these airlines following challenges faced by Boeing related to its 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed satisfaction over Japan Airlines’ decision to select the 787 Dreamliner as it enhances its fleet, emphasizing the importance of their long-standing partnership.
These announcements coincide with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event for the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has committed to purchasing 10 Dreamliners, along with an option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has placed an order for 20 models of the 777-9 and 20 of the 787-10, also with options for 10 more 787-10s.
The renewed focus on partnerships is underscored by a report from March indicating that Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first time the carrier procured a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo competes directly with the 737 Max, which was still under scrutiny due to a controversy around the same period.
Similarly, reports indicated that Airbus had also secured orders for several wide-body jets from Korean Air, which has predominantly relied on Boeing for its fleet. This move was perceived as a challenge to the 777x model, which is just beginning regulatory approval processes.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, highlighted the importance of Boeing’s aircraft in Korean Air’s fleet over the last 50 years and reaffirmed that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will aid the airline in achieving its sustainability and growth objectives.