Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle airplanes, securing commitments for up to 80 jets from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The announcement, made on Monday, indicates that the U.S. aircraft manufacturer is actively competing after its rival Airbus gained ground with these carriers following the fallout from the Boeing 737 Max issues in January.
Brad McMullen, the head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ continued partnership, 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.”
This development is occurring on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aerospace industry. Japan Airlines is set to take delivery of 10 Dreamliners, with an option for an additional 10. Korean Air has ordered 20 of the 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, with the possibility of adding another 10 787-10s.
The reference to a “long-standing partnership” comes in light of a previous Reuters report indicating that Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first acquisition of a single-aisle aircraft from a non-Boeing supplier. This purchase occurred amid ongoing challenges for Boeing, including a significant production slowdown linked to the 737 Max.
In a similar context, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had also secured several wide-body jets from Korean Air, traditionally a Boeing customer, which seems to signal a preference for Airbus amid the ongoing challenges faced by Boeing, particularly regarding the 777X model, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed appreciation for Korean Air’s selection of Boeing’s wide-body aircraft, stating, “We are honored Korean Air has selected our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to its global network. Boeing airplanes have played an integral role with Korean Air over the past 50 years, and the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will continue to support the airline’s long-term goals for sustainability and continued growth.”