Boeing has made significant strides in securing orders from major airlines, announcing on Monday that it has finalized agreements for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This comes as a response to French competitor Airbus, which had made inroads with these airlines following issues surrounding Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s sales operations leader, expressed appreciation for 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.”
These announcements were made on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a prominent event for the aerospace industry. Japan Airlines has committed to 10 Dreamliners with the possibility of an additional 10, while Korean Air has ordered 20 models of the 777-9 and 20 of the 787-10, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This partnership comes on the heels of a report in March indicating that Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking a significant shift as it was the first single-aisle purchase from a non-Boeing manufacturer. The A321neo is seen as a competitor to the troubled 737 Max, which was grappling with production challenges and a scandal at that time.
Moreover, around the same period, it was reported that Airbus had successfully sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, a move that hinted at a potential shift away from Boeing for that airline, which traditionally holds a Boeing-heavy fleet.
In response to these recent orders, Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, commented, “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.”