Boeing has recently announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft. On Monday, the company revealed that Japan Airlines and Korean Air have placed orders for up to 80 planes. This comes in response to French competitor Airbus making inroads with these airlines during concerns stemming from the January incident involving Boeing’s 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to reselect the 787 Dreamliner amid their fleet modernization efforts.
The announcement was made on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines is set to acquire 10 Dreamliners, with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air committed to 20 models of the 777-9 and 20 of the 787-10, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This partnership is notable considering a report from March that indicated Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first time the airline acquired a single-aisle plane from a manufacturer other than Boeing. This was during a period when the 737 Max was facing significant scrutiny and a production slowdown.
Additionally, Bloomberg recently reported that Airbus secured several wide-body jet orders from Korean Air, traditionally a Boeing customer, indicating that the order may have been a setback for the 777x, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, stated that they are honored by Korean Air’s selections, emphasizing that Boeing aircraft have been vital for the airline for the past 50 years. She noted that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will support the airline’s long-term sustainability and growth objectives.