Boeing has announced significant new 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 comes as a response to Airbus’s previous gains amid Boeing’s challenges following incidents with the 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed appreciation for Japan Airlines’ continued partnership, highlighting their order for 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10. Korean Air has placed an order for 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, with an option to acquire 10 more 787-10s.
This announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. The new orders follow a Reuters report from March that noted Japan Airlines’ purchase of 11 A321neo jets from Airbus—its first acquisition of a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. Similarly, Korean Air had ordered several wide-body jets from Airbus as well, signaling a potential shift in their aircraft sourcing.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, stated that Boeing is honored to have Korean Air choose their efficient widebody planes to expand its network. She emphasized Boeing’s longstanding relationship with Korean Air and how the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will help meet the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives.