Boeing has announced significant orders for its large aircraft, securing commitments for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This announcement was made on Monday, indicating that the U.S. manufacturer is actively responding to the competitive pressures from rival Airbus, which had recently made inroads with these airlines.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s sales operations leader, expressed appreciation for the long-term partnership with Japan Airlines, stating his satisfaction that the airline has chosen to acquire more 787 Dreamliners as they work to modernize their fleet.
The timing of this announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners with the option for 10 additional units, while Korean Air has placed an order for 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This development follows a Reuters report from March that noted Japan Airlines purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking its first acquisition of a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. At that time, the A321neo was seen as a competitor to the 737 Max, which was facing significant issues and production delays.
Similarly, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, traditionally a Boeing customer, suggesting that this order was a move away from the Boeing 777x, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude for Korean Air’s selection of Boeing’s widebody aircraft, emphasizing their critical role in the airline’s operations over the past 50 years and their contribution to Korean Air’s sustainability and growth objectives.