Boeing has recently announced significant orders for its large aircraft models, stating that it has secured commitments for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle airplanes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This announcement, made on Monday, indicates that Boeing is actively working to regain its foothold in the market after Airbus had previously gained ground with these carriers following the issues surrounding the Boeing 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed a commitment to Japan Airlines, emphasizing the value of their long-standing partnership and the airline’s choice to continue modernizing its fleet with the 787 Dreamliner.
These developments were revealed on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aerospace industry. Japan Airlines is set to take delivery of 10 Dreamliners, with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has placed an order for 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 aircraft, with the possibility of 10 more 787-10s.
The reference to a “long-standing partnership” comes in light of previous reports indicating Japan Airlines’ recent acquisition of 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking the first instance of the airline purchasing a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. This move coincided with ongoing challenges for the 737 Max series amid production slowdowns.
In a similar vein, reports mentioned that Airbus had also sold several wide-body planes to Korean Air, traditionally a Boeing customer. This order was perceived as a challenge to Boeing’s 777x model, which is just beginning to receive regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude to Korean Air for selecting Boeing’s most efficient widebody airplanes, highlighting the integral role Boeing has played for the airline over the past 50 years. She emphasized that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will align with Korean Air’s long-term sustainability and growth objectives.