Boeing has announced significant orders for its major aircraft, securing commitments for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from both Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This news, revealed on Monday, indicates that the U.S. manufacturer is recovering from challenges faced earlier this year when rival Airbus gained traction with these airlines.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, commented on the situation, emphasizing the importance of the long-standing partnership with Japan Airlines and expressing satisfaction that they have chosen to continue with the 787 Dreamliner as they update their fleet.
This announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a major trade event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has placed an order for 10 Dreamliners with the option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has requested twenty 777-9 planes and twenty 787-10 aircraft, also with the possibility of acquiring 10 more 787-10s.
The reference to a “long-standing partnership” highlights a recent Reuters report where Airbus secured a deal to sell 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first time the airline purchased a single-aisle plane from a manufacturer other than Boeing. This order came amid ongoing issues with the 737 Max, which was experiencing a significant scandal and production slowdown at that time.
Similarly, Bloomberg reported earlier that Airbus had sold wide-body jets to Korean Air, which has traditionally been dominated by Boeing aircraft. This was seen as a possible slight against Boeing’s 777X, which has recently gained regulatory attention.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude that Korean Air has opted for Boeing’s largest and most efficient widebody aircraft to enhance its global operations. She noted the integral role Boeing planes have played in Korean Air’s operations for the past 50 years, and highlighted that both the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will support the airline’s sustainability goals and growth objectives.