Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft, revealing that it has secured commitments for up to 80 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This announcement was made on 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 an additional 10, while Korean Air has ordered 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
Boeing’s move follows a recent trend where its French competitor, Airbus, had made inroads with these airlines. Earlier this year, Japan Airlines purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking its first acquisition of a single-aisle plane from a company other than Boeing, amidst ongoing challenges surrounding the Boeing 737 Max. Similarly, Korean Air had placed orders for several wide-body jets from Airbus, raising questions about its loyalty to Boeing aircraft, given that the majority of its fleet consists of Boeing planes.
In response to the recent orders, Boeing’s sales operations head, Brad McMullen, expressed appreciation for the partnership with Japan Airlines, highlighting the airline’s choice to continue modernizing its fleet with the 787 Dreamliner. Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, also noted the longstanding relationship with Korean Air, emphasizing that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner align with the airline’s sustainability and growth goals.