Boeing has announced major orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. On Monday, the company declared it has secured orders for up to 80 aircraft, marking a notable comeback after facing competition from Airbus, which had gained ground during recent setbacks with Boeing’s 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed pride in the long-standing partnership with Japan Airlines and mentioned the airline’s continued choice of the 787 Dreamliner for fleet modernization. The announcement coincides with the Farnborough International Airshow, a significant event in the aviation industry.
Japan Airlines is set to acquire 10 Dreamliners with an option for 10 additional units, while Korean Air has ordered 20 of the 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, along with an option for another 10 787-10s.
This announcement recalls a Reuters report from March indicating that Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the airline’s first purchase of a single-aisle aircraft from Airbus rather than Boeing. The A321neo is a competitor to the 737 Max, which was then facing significant challenges.
Additionally, Bloomberg reported in March that Airbus had also secured orders for several wide-body jets from Korean Air, traditionally a Boeing customer. This development was perceived as a rejection of the 777x, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, commented on being honored that Korean Air has chosen Boeing’s latest and most efficient wide-body models to enhance its global network capacity. She emphasized the significant role Boeing aircraft have played in Korean Air’s operations for the last half-century, with the 777X and 787 Dreamliner aligned with the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives.