Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes, securing bookings for up to 80 aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This announcement comes in response to Airbus making gains in the region following issues with Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed the company’s appreciation for its longstanding relationship with Japan Airlines, noting their decision to add 10 Dreamliners to their fleet with the option for 10 more. Korean Air has ordered twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, with the possibility of acquiring an additional 10 787-10s.
This announcement coincides with the opening of the Farnborough International Airshow, a prominent event in the aviation industry. The orders from these airlines come after recent reports indicated that Airbus had sold A321neo jets to Japan Airlines and several wide-body jets to Korean Air, marking a shift as both airlines had predominantly operated Boeing aircraft.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, highlighted the importance of these orders for Korean Air, emphasizing that Boeing planes have been vital to the airline’s operations for the last 50 years. She noted that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will help support Korean Air’s sustainability and growth objectives.