Boeing has made significant strides in securing orders for its large aircraft, announcing on Monday that Japan Airlines and Korean Air have ordered up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle models. This development follows a period when rival Airbus made inroads with these airlines after issues arose from Boeing’s 737 Max incident in January, demonstrating that Boeing is actively responding to competitive pressures.
Brad McMullen, head of sales operations at Boeing, remarked on the continued partnership with Japan Airlines, expressing satisfaction that the airline has chosen to enhance its fleet with the 787 Dreamliner.
The announcement coincided with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, an important event for the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has committed to acquiring 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10. Concurrently, Korean Air has ordered 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, with the possibility of adding 10 more 787-10s.
This “long-standing partnership” reference aligns with a report from March, which indicated that Airbus sold 11 of its A321neo jets to Japan Airlines—the first time the airline had purchased a narrow-body aircraft from a company other than Boeing. The A321neo competes directly with the 737 Max, which was facing a major scandal and significant production issues at that time.
Additionally, Bloomberg had reported around the same period that Airbus sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which predominantly operates Boeing aircraft. This sale was viewed as a slight against the 777X, a model recently nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude to Korean Air for choosing Boeing’s most efficient widebody aircraft to expand its global operations. She highlighted that Boeing planes have been crucial to Korean Air’s success over the past half-century and emphasized that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will aid the airline’s goals for sustainability and growth.