Boeing recently announced significant orders for its large aircraft, specifically the 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes. The company revealed on Monday that it secured orders for up to 80 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air, indicating that it is regaining momentum after Airbus had made inroads with these carriers following issues with Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ continued partnership, stating, “We value our long-standing partnership with Japan Airlines and are pleased that they have re-selected the 787 Dreamliner as they continue to modernize their world-class fleet.”
This announcement coincides with the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has committed to 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has ordered 20 of the 777-9 models and 20 787-10s, also with the option for 10 more of the latter.
The mention of a “long-standing partnership” is significant, especially following a March report from Reuters indicating that Japan Airlines had ordered 11 A321neo jets from Airbus. This marked a shift as it was the first time the airline had procured a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo competes directly with Boeing’s 737 Max, which faced challenges amidst a scandal and production slowdowns.
Similarly, Bloomberg reported earlier in the year that Airbus made sales of several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which primarily operates Boeing aircraft. This move was perceived as a slight to Boeing’s 777x, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, remarked on Korean Air’s order, stating, “We are honored Korean Air has selected our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to its global network.” She highlighted Boeing’s significant role in Korean Air’s operations over the past 50 years and affirmed that both the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will support the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives.