Boeing has made a significant announcement regarding new orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft. On Monday, the aerospace manufacturer confirmed that it has secured orders for up to 80 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This move comes as Boeing responds to earlier competition from Airbus, which had managed to attract these airlines amid ongoing challenges related to Boeing’s 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with Japan Airlines, 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.”
This announcement coincides with the start of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has committed to 20 units of the 777-9 and 20 of the 787-10, with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
The mention of a “long-standing partnership” highlights a notable shift in the market; a Reuters report earlier in the year revealed that Japan Airlines had purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking its first acquisition of a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. This was during a challenging period for Boeing with the 737 Max under scrutiny.
At the same time, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had also sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, where Boeing aircraft have traditionally dominated the fleet. The report suggested that this order from Korean Air was a signal against the Boeing 777x, which is still approaching regulatory approval.
In response to the new commitments, Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, stated, “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.”