Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft, securing commitments for up to 80 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This development comes as a response to previous encroachments by French competitor Airbus during the aftermath of issues related to Boeing’s 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s sales operations chief, expressed appreciation for 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 was made on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines plans to acquire 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has ordered 20 models of the 777-9 and 20 of the 787-10, with a further option for 10 more 787-10s.
This renewed commitment is particularly noteworthy given that, in March, Japan Airlines had purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking its first acquisition of a single-aisle plane from a manufacturer other than Boeing. Airbus’s A321neo competes with the 737 Max, which was facing scrutiny alongside production setbacks.
Similarly, reports indicated that Airbus also sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which largely operates Boeing aircraft. This order was perceived as a potential slight against Boeing’s 777x model, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, commented on Korean Air’s recent choices, stating, “We are honored Korean Air has selected our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to its global network.” She emphasized that Boeing planes have been vital to Korean Air for the past five decades and that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner align with the airline’s sustainable and growth objectives.