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 announcements were made on Monday, coinciding with the commencement of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. This development indicates that Boeing is actively responding to recent challenges posed by rival Airbus, which had made inroads with these airlines following issues related to Boeing’s 737 Max model earlier in the year.
Japan Airlines will acquire 10 Dreamliners, with the option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has placed an order for twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, with the possibility of adding 10 more 787-10s later.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed the company’s appreciation for the long-standing relationship with Japan Airlines, highlighting their continued choice of the 787 Dreamliner as they modernize their fleet.
This announcement comes in the wake of recent reports indicating Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking its first purchase of a single-aisle aircraft from a competitor other than Boeing. Similarly, Korean Air was noted to have made wide-body orders from Airbus, potentially sidelining the Boeing 777x, which is still approaching regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, remarked on the significance of the orders for Korean Air, stating that Boeing aircraft have been integral to the airline for the past five decades and that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will aid in the airline’s objectives for sustainability and future growth.