Boeing has secured significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The company announced on Monday that it has booked orders for up to 80 aircraft, a move that highlights its intent to regain market strength after losing ground to Airbus during the fallout from the 737 Max incident earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to continue investing in the 787 Dreamliner as they modernize their fleet.
This announcement coincides with the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aerospace industry. Japan Airlines has committed to 10 Dreamliners, with an option for 10 more, while Korean Air has placed orders for 20 models of the 777-9 and 20 of the 787-10, with the possibility of acquiring an additional 10 787-10s.
The partnerships with these airlines come in light of recent competitive moves by Airbus. Earlier reports indicated that Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the carrier’s first purchase of a single-aisle plane from an airline other than Boeing. This occurred during a challenging time for Boeing, especially amid the scandal surrounding the 737 Max and a subsequent slowdown in production.
Additionally, reports revealed that Airbus had made sales of several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which historically has relied predominantly on Boeing aircraft. This ordering trend was seen as a potential setback for Boeing’s 777X, which is currently nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed pride in Korean Air’s selection of Boeing’s most efficient widebody models, emphasizing the long-standing partnership between the two entities. She noted that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner align with Korean Air’s sustainability and growth objectives over the coming years.