Boeing announced significant new orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The company revealed on Monday that it has secured commitments for up to 80 planes as part of efforts to reclaim market share from Airbus, which had made inroads with these airlines following issues with Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year.
Boeing’s sales operations head, Brad McMullen, expressed gratitude for Japan Airlines’ continued partnership, noting their decision to select the 787 Dreamliner to upgrade their fleet. The announcement coincided with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines is set to receive 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has committed to 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
The mention of a longstanding partnership is particularly notable considering a Reuters report from March indicating that Japan Airlines had acquired 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking their first purchase of a single-aisle aircraft from a competitor to Boeing. This order was made during a time of crisis for Boeing, as they faced a scandal and production halts related to the 737 Max.
Additionally, Bloomberg reported earlier this year that Airbus sold several wide-body aircraft to Korean Air, a clear indication of their efforts to diversify their fleet, which has traditionally been dominated by Boeing jets. In response, Boeing’s commercial airplanes division head, Stephanie Pope, highlighted her firm’s role in Korean Air’s operations over the past five decades, expressing enthusiasm for the recent selections to enhance the airline’s capacity and support its sustainability goals.