Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes, securing commitments for up to 80 units from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This development follows Airbus’s recent gains with these airlines amid challenges Boeing faced earlier this year with its 737 Max issues.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed satisfaction regarding Japan Airlines’ selection of the 787 Dreamliner as part of their fleet modernization efforts. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners, with the option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has ordered 20 units of the 777-9 and 20 of the 787-10, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This announcement coincides with the start of the Farnborough International Airshow, a significant event in the aerospace industry. The orders are particularly noteworthy as they come after a competition spike highlighted in March, when Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines—marking the first time the airline had sourced a single-aisle plane from a manufacturer other than Boeing. Additionally, reports indicated that Airbus also secured orders for wide-body jets from Korean Air during that period.
In response to the latest news, Stephanie Pope, Boeing’s head of commercial airplanes division, emphasized the long history between Boeing and Korean Air, noting that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will play vital roles in supporting the airline’s sustainability goals and growth aspirations.