Boeing has made a significant announcement regarding new orders for its major aircraft, confirming on Monday that it has secured orders for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This development indicates that the U.S. aircraft manufacturer is responding proactively after French competitor Airbus gained ground in the market following issues with Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed his satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ continued selection of the 787 Dreamliner to modernize its fleet, highlighting the importance of their long-standing partnership.
The announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aerospace industry. Japan Airlines is set to acquire 10 Dreamliners, with the option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has placed an order for 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, along with the option for 10 more 787-10s.
This renewed partnership follows a recent report indicating that Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first instance of the airline buying a single-aisle jet from a manufacturer other than Boeing. During the same period, Bloomberg reported that Airbus completed several sales of wide-body jets to Korean Air, a move considered a slight against Boeing’s 777x, which has been delayed in receiving regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude to Korean Air for selecting Boeing’s largest, most efficient wide-body aircraft to enhance its global operations. She emphasized the pivotal role Boeing aircraft have played in Korean Air’s development over the past five decades, asserting that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will contribute to the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives for the future.