Boeing has announced significant orders for its largest aircraft, securing orders for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This announcement came on Monday, indicating that the U.S. manufacturer is actively responding to competition from French rival Airbus, which gained ground following issues with Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, the head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed enthusiasm about the ongoing relationship with Japan Airlines, 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 news coincides with the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has committed to purchasing 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has ordered 20 of the 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, also with the option for 10 more 787-10s.
This partnership is further emphasized by a report from March, highlighting that Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking a significant shift as it was the first time the airline had purchased a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo competes with the 737 Max, which had been facing scrutiny and production delays at that time.
In a related context, Bloomberg had reported that Airbus was also able to sell a number of wide-body jets to Korean Air, which predominantly operates Boeing aircraft. This order was interpreted as a disappointment for the 777x model, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, acknowledged Korean Air’s selection of Boeing’s wide-body planes, stating, “We are honored that 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.”