Boeing has secured significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft, totaling up to 80 units, from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This announcement, made on Monday, indicates that the U.S. aircraft manufacturer is responding to recent competition from French rival Airbus, which gained traction with these airlines earlier this year following issues with Boeing’s 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s sales operations head, expressed appreciation for the ongoing partnership with Japan Airlines, highlighting their selection of the 787 Dreamliner as the airline modernizes its fleet. The announcement coincides with the opening of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry.
Japan Airlines confirmed an order for 10 Dreamliners, with an option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has ordered 20 units of the 777-9 and 20 787-10 models, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This renewed commitment from Japan Airlines comes after it made headlines in March for purchasing 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking a departure from exclusivity with Boeing for single-aisle planes during a tumultuous time for the manufacturer. Similarly, reports indicated that Korean Air had made wide-body orders with Airbus, raising questions about its long-standing loyalty to Boeing, especially as the 777x aircraft nears regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, who leads Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude to Korean Air for selecting their largest and most efficient widebody aircraft, emphasizing the essential role Boeing planes have played in the airline’s operations over the past five decades. She also noted that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will be crucial in supporting the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives.