Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The company revealed on Monday that it has secured orders for up to 80 planes in total. This development comes as a response to recent competitive encroachments by French rival Airbus, which had gained traction with these carriers following issues with Boeing’s 737 Max model earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, the head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed gratitude for Japan Airlines’ continued partnership, 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.”
These announcements were made on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines is set to take delivery of 10 Dreamliners, with the option to acquire an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has committed to 20 models of the 777-9 and 20 of the 787-10, along with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
The mention of a “long-standing partnership” is notable, especially considering a previous report from Reuters indicating that Japan Airlines purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus—its first order for a single-aisle plane from a manufacturer other than Boeing. This took place amid ongoing complications for Boeing, including a significant production slowdown related to the 737 Max.
Additionally, during the same period, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had secured sales of several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which primarily operates a Boeing fleet. This was perceived as a possible disregard for Boeing’s 777X model, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, remarked, “We are honored 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.”