Boeing has announced significant new orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft. The manufacturer disclosed on Monday that it secured commitments for up to 80 aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The orders are seen as a strategic move following Airbus’s recent gains with these carriers amid challenges related to Boeing’s 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines reaffirming its commitment to the 787 Dreamliner as it upgrades its fleet. The announcement coincided with the opening of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry calendar. Japan Airlines will acquire 10 Dreamliners, with an option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has placed an order for 20 of the 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, with the option for 10 more 787-10s.
This partnership is particularly noteworthy given recent reports highlighting Airbus’s sale of 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the airline’s first purchase of a single-aisle jet from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo competes directly with the 737 Max, which has faced scrutiny and production slowdowns.
In a similar vein, Bloomberg noted that Korean Air purchased several wide-body jets from Airbus, which might be seen as a challenge to Boeing’s 777x model, currently nearing regulatory approval.
In response to the latest orders, Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude to Korean Air for selecting Boeing’s largest and most efficient widebody aircraft, emphasizing the long-standing relationship between the airline and Boeing. She reiterated that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will support Korean Air’s sustainability and growth objectives in the future.