Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes, securing commitments for up to 80 aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This development marks a strong response from the American manufacturer after its French competitor, Airbus, captured attention among these airlines following issues with Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed satisfaction with the 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.”
The announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners with an option for 10 additional units. Meanwhile, Korean Air has committed to 20 models of the 777-9 and 20 units of the 787-10, along with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This partnership comes in the wake of Airbus’s sale of 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines earlier this year, its first acquisition of a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo competes directly with the troubled 737 Max, which was facing significant production issues at that time.
Similarly, reports indicated that Airbus managed to secure several wide-body jet orders from Korean Air, which primarily operates Boeing aircraft. This was viewed as a potential slight to Boeing’s 777x model, which is still awaiting regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, commented on the importance of these orders, stating, “We are honored Korean Air has selected our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to its global network. Boeing airplanes have played an integral role with Korean Air over the past 50 years, and the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will continue to support the airline’s long-term goals for sustainability and continued growth.”