Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The company revealed on Monday that it had secured orders of up to 80 planes, demonstrating its resilience, especially following a period where rival Airbus gained traction with these airlines after the issues surrounding Boeing’s 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to continue its partnership with Boeing and select the 787 Dreamliner for their fleet modernization efforts.
This announcement coincides with the start of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has agreed to purchase 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has committed to 20 units of the 777-9 and 20 units of the 787-10, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
The mention of a “long-standing partnership” follows a report from Reuters in March that noted Japan Airlines’ purchase of 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking the first time the airline bought single-aisle aircraft from a competitor. This occurred while Boeing was grappling with challenges related to the 737 Max, which was undergoing a significant scandal and production slowdown.
Similarly, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had secured sales of wide-body jets to Korean Air, traditionally dominated by Boeing aircraft. This has been perceived as a slight against Boeing’s 777x model, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, chief of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, remarked on the importance of Boeing aircraft in Korean Air’s history, emphasizing that both the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will support the airline’s future goals for sustainability and growth.