Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft, securing commitments for up to 80 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This announcement, made on Monday, signals Boeing’s resilience following competition from Airbus, particularly after Airbus had gained some ground during the earlier challenges faced by Boeing’s 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed appreciation for the long-lasting relationship with Japan Airlines, highlighting their decision to continue modernizing their fleet with the 787 Dreamliner. Japan Airlines is ordering 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has committed to 20 models of the 777-9 and 20 of the 787-10, also with the option for 10 more 787-10s.
This development comes on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. The emphasis on partnerships recalls an earlier report indicating Airbus’s sale of 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking a shift as Japan Airlines had previously only purchased single-aisle planes from Boeing. At the same time, reports indicated that Airbus had acquired orders for several wide-body jets from Korean Air, a move perceived as a challenge to Boeing’s dominance.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplane division, expressed gratitude for Korean Air’s choice of Boeing’s widebody aircraft, noting their significance in the airline’s fleet over the past 50 years and their alignment with Korean Air’s sustainability objectives and growth plans.