Boeing has announced significant new orders for its largest aircraft, securing bookings for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This development, revealed on Monday, indicates that the U.S. manufacturer is actively responding to competition from Airbus, which had made inroads with these carriers following issues with Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to choose the 787 Dreamliner for modernizing its fleet, highlighting the long-term partnership between the two companies.
This announcement coincides with the opening of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event for the aerospace industry. Japan Airlines is set to acquire 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has ordered 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, also with the option for 10 more 787-10s.
The mention of a “long-standing partnership” recalls a recent report indicating that Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking a shift as it was the first instance of the airline buying a single-aisle plane from a manufacturer other than Boeing. This occurred amidst ongoing challenges for Boeing related to the 737 Max situation.
Similarly, reports showed that Airbus had also sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which primarily operates Boeing aircraft. This order was interpreted as a potential slight against the 777X, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude towards Korean Air for selecting Boeing’s most efficient wide-body aircraft to enhance its global operations, reaffirming Boeing’s historical role with the airline and its commitment to supporting its sustainability and growth objectives.