Boeing has announced significant orders for its large aircraft, securing commitments for up to 80 units of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This development comes after Airbus had recently made inroads with these carriers following issues with Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year. The new orders indicate that Boeing is actively responding to competitive pressures.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed appreciation for the continued partnership with Japan Airlines, noting their decision to select the 787 Dreamliner for their fleet modernization efforts.
These announcements coincide with the start of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aerospace sector. Japan Airlines has agreed to purchase 10 Dreamliners, with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has placed orders for 20 units of the 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, along with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This move is particularly noteworthy in light of recent reports indicating that Japan Airlines had purchased A321neo jets from Airbus, marking a departure from exclusively buying single-aisle aircraft from Boeing. Similarly, it was reported that Korean Air had acquired several Airbus wide-body jets as a departure from their historically Boeing-dominated fleet.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude for Korean Air’s selection of Boeing’s large and efficient airplanes, emphasizing the importance of Boeing aircraft in Korean Air’s operations over the past five decades and their ongoing support for the airline’s future growth and sustainability goals.