Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft. The company reported on Monday that Japan Airlines and Korean Air have committed to orders for up to 80 planes. This comes after Airbus made inroads with these carriers in the wake of the January incident with Boeing’s 737 Max, indicating that Boeing is actively responding to market challenges.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, stated, “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.”
This announcement arrives on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event for the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has placed an order for 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has ordered 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, also with the option for 10 more 787-10s.
The mention of a “long-standing partnership” is notable given a Reuters report from March highlighting Airbus’s sale of 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first time the airline purchased a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. This was during a period when the 737 Max was embroiled in scandal and facing production slowdowns.
Additionally, Bloomberg reported earlier that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which primarily operates Boeing aircraft. This order was perceived as a repudiation of the 777X, which has only recently approached regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed pride in the new 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.”