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. The announcement was made on Monday, indicating that Boeing is not standing idle after facing competitive pressures from Airbus, particularly after an incident involving the 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ ongoing collaboration, stating, “We value our long-standing partnership with Japan Airlines and are pleased that they have re-selected the 787 Dreamliner as they continue to modernize their world-class fleet.”
This announcement coincides with the start of the Farnborough International Airshow, a prominent event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines confirmed an order for 10 Dreamliners with the option to purchase 10 additional units. Meanwhile, Korean Air committed to purchasing twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10s, with a similar option for 10 more 787-10s.
The remark about the “long-standing partnership” brings to mind a report from Reuters in March, which indicated that Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines—marking the first time Japan Airlines acquired a single-aisle aircraft from Airbus instead of Boeing. The A321neo competes directly with the 737 Max, which was experiencing complications and production delays around that time.
Similarly, Bloomberg noted that Airbus had sold a number of wide-body jets to Korean Air recently, a move perceived as a slight to Boeing’s 777x, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, remarked, “We are honored Korean Air has selected our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to its global network. Boeing airplanes have played an integral role with Korean Air over the past 50 years, and the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will continue to support the airline’s long-term goals for sustainability and continued growth.”