Boeing recently revealed significant orders for its large aircraft, announcing on Monday that it has secured commitments for up to 80 units of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle jets from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. These orders come as a response to Airbus’s recent inroads into these airlines following Boeing’s issues with the 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to continue its partnership with Boeing, 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 was made on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a prominent industry event. Japan Airlines is set to receive 10 Dreamliners, with an additional option for 10 more. Meanwhile, Korean Air has placed orders for 20 models of the 777-9 and 20 units of the 787-10, with the option for 10 more 787-10 jets.
This partnership echoes reports from March, indicating that Airbus had secured its first sale of single-aisle A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, signaling a shift amid Boeing’s challenges with the 737 Max. Similarly, reports suggested that Airbus sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which has largely relied on Boeing for its fleet.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, stated, “We are honored Korean Air has selected our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to its global network,” emphasizing the long-standing relationship and Boeing’s commitment to sustainability and growth for the airline.