Boeing has announced significant orders for its flagship aircraft, with Japan Airlines and Korean Air committing to up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes. This announcement comes as Boeing aims to regain market share following recent challenges from competitor Airbus, which had made inroads during the ongoing issues surrounding the 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to renew its order for the 787 Dreamliner. “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,” he stated.
The timing of this announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a notable event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners, with the option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has placed orders for 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 aircraft, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This development follows a March report from Reuters highlighting that Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the carrier’s first acquisition of a single-aisle aircraft from Airbus instead of Boeing. The A321neo competes directly with the troubled 737 Max, which was experiencing a production slowdown at that time due to ongoing issues.
Similarly, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which predominantly operates Boeing aircraft. This move was seen as a potential backlash against Boeing’s 777x model, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed the company’s appreciation for Korean Air’s choice of their aircraft. “We are honored Korean Air has selected our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to its global network,” she remarked, noting the long history of Boeing’s contributions to the airline’s fleet and emphasizing the role of the 777X and 787 Dreamliner in supporting Korean Air’s sustainability and growth objectives.