Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. On Monday, the company revealed it secured orders for up to 80 planes from these carriers. Following challenges earlier in the year that allowed rival Airbus to capture some of these accounts, the new bookings signify Boeing’s strong response.
Boeing’s head of sales operations, Brad McMullen, expressed appreciation for the ongoing partnership with Japan Airlines, highlighting their decision to re-select the 787 Dreamliner as part of their fleet modernization.
The announcements were made during the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines committed to 10 Dreamliners with an option to acquire 10 additional aircraft, while Korean Air ordered twenty 777-9s and twenty 787-10s, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This development reflects on a prior report in March when Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines—a first for them in acquiring a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo rivals the 737 Max, amid a difficult period for Boeing due to the ongoing fallout from safety issues.
Additionally, it was reported that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air. The deal raised eyebrows as Korean Air’s fleet predominantly comprises Boeing aircraft. Some analysts viewed this as a move against Boeing’s 777x, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed honor at Korean Air’s selection of Boeing’s latest widebody models, asserting that these planes will support the airline’s sustainability and growth ambitions moving forward.