Boeing has announced significant new orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft. The company revealed on Monday that Japan Airlines and Korean Air have secured orders for up to 80 planes. This development comes after Airbus made inroads with the carriers following a series of challenges Boeing faced earlier this year, particularly related to the 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, emphasized the importance of the company’s long-term partnership with Japan Airlines, expressing satisfaction that they have chosen to reselect the 787 Dreamliner as they update their fleet.
This announcement coincides with the opening of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines will acquire 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has ordered 20 units of the 777-9 model and 20 of the 787-10, with the potential for 10 more 787-10s.
McMullen’s comments highlight a competitive context, as earlier reports indicated that Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first purchase of single-aisle jets from a manufacturer outside of Boeing. This order came amid significant issues with the 737 Max lineup, which had resulted in production slowdowns.
Additionally, in the same timeframe, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had secured several wide-body jet orders from Korean Air, which traditionally has a predominantly Boeing fleet. This was perceived as a move against Boeing’s 777x model, still awaiting full regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, leading Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed pride in Korean Air’s selection of their largest wide-body aircraft, attributing the decision to Boeing’s longstanding partnership with the airline over the past five decades. She stated that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will support Korean Air’s future goals for sustainability and growth.