Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes, securing commitments for up to 80 aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This development comes as a response to Airbus making inroads with the carriers following the issues surrounding Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to reselect the 787 Dreamliner for their fleet modernization efforts. The announcement was made on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry.
Japan Airlines has placed an order for 10 Dreamliners with options for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has committed to buying 20 units of the 777-9 model and 20 of the 787-10, along with options for 10 more 787-10s.
This partnership comes amid competition from Airbus, which had previously sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines—their first purchase of a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo serves as a rival to the 737 Max, which was dealing with production issues due to its ongoing challenges.
Additionally, reports indicated that Airbus had recently sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, further intensifying the competitive landscape, as a significant portion of Korean Air’s fleet is composed of Boeing aircraft. Boeing executives noted their pride in Korean Air’s selection of their newest widebody airplanes, emphasizing the long-standing relationship between the two companies and how the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will assist the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives.