Boeing has recently announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft. On Monday, the company revealed that it secured orders for up to 80 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This comes in the wake of Airbus making inroads with these airlines following issues surrounding Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed the company’s appreciation for its enduring partnership with Japan Airlines, stating that they are pleased that the airline has chosen the 787 Dreamliner to modernize its fleet.
These announcements were made on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a prominent industry event. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners, with an option for an additional 10. Korean Air has placed an order for twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, also with the option for 10 more 787-10s.
This partnership comes after reports that Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the airline’s first purchase of a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo competes directly with the 737 Max, which has faced difficulties and delays.
Additionally, reports indicated that Airbus sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, further tightening competition in the market as Boeing’s 777X aircraft neared regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, emphasized the importance of Boeing aircraft in Korean Air’s operations over the last 50 years and highlighted that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will support the airline’s long-term sustainability and growth objectives.