Boeing has announced significant orders for its largest aircraft, securing commitments for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This announcement comes as a response to the increased competition from Airbus, which had gained traction with these carriers following issues related to Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed appreciation for the ongoing partnership 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.”
The announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a significant event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines confirmed an order for 10 Dreamliners, with options for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has ordered 20 units of the 777-9 and 20 of the 787-10, with options for 10 more of the latter.
This partnership comes in light of previous reports indicating that Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the airline’s first purchase of a single-aisle plane from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo directly competes with the Boeing 737 Max, which has faced serious challenges recently.
Additionally, reports highlighted that Airbus also sold several wide-body aircraft to Korean Air, which predominantly operates Boeing planes. This move was interpreted as a strategic shift amid the ongoing issues surrounding Boeing’s 777X model, which is awaiting regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, remarked on the significance of the orders, stating, “We are honored Korean Air has selected our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to its global network.” She added that Boeing aircraft have been essential to Korean Air’s operations for the past 50 years and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives.