Boeing has secured significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air, as announced on Monday. The company has received orders for up to 80 planes, indicating a strong response to previous incursions by its French competitor, Airbus, which took advantage of challenges faced by Boeing following the 737 Max incident earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed the company’s appreciation for its long-standing partnership with Japan Airlines, highlighting their choice to continue modernizing their fleet with the 787 Dreamliner.
These announcements came on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aerospace industry. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has committed to purchasing 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 aircraft, also with the option for an extra 10 787-10s.
The reference to a “long-standing partnership” recalls a previous report from March stating that Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, which marked the first time the airline had obtained a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing, as the A321neo stands in competition with the 737 Max during a challenging time for Boeing.
In a similar vein, reports indicated that Airbus had secured orders for various wide-body jets from Korean Air, which has primarily used Boeing aircraft in its fleet. This move was perceived as a challenge to the 777x, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, stated that Boeing is honored by Korean Air’s decision to select their most efficient widebody planes to enhance their global network capacity. She emphasized that Boeing aircraft have played a critical role in Korean Air’s operations for the past 50 years, and the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will support the airline’s long-term sustainability and growth objectives.