Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The company confirmed on Monday that it has secured orders for up to 80 of the aircraft. This news comes shortly after Airbus made gains with these carriers during the recent challenges Boeing faced with its 737 Max model.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to continue its partnership by selecting the 787 Dreamliner for its fleet modernization.
These announcements coincided with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has committed to purchasing 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has ordered 20 of the 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, with the option to acquire 10 more of the latter.
The reference to a “long-standing partnership” highlights previous developments, including a Reuters report indicating that Airbus made its first sale of single-aisle A321neo jets to Japan Airlines earlier this year. This marked a shift as it was the first time Japan Airlines acquired a single-aisle plane from a manufacturer other than Boeing.
Additionally, Bloomberg noted that Airbus had also sold multiple wide-body jets to Korean Air, predominantly a Boeing fleet operator, suggesting these orders were a response to Boeing’s ongoing challenges.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, acknowledged Korean Air’s choice of Boeing’s most advanced models to enhance its global operations, reiterating the longstanding relationship between the two companies.