Boeing has recently announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft, securing commitments for up to 80 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The announcement, made on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, indicates that Boeing is responding vigorously to competitors like Airbus, which had gained ground with these carriers following issues related to Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s sales operations chief, expressed appreciation for the continued partnership with Japan Airlines, noting their decision to order 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10. Korean Air has ordered twenty 777-9 models along with twenty 787-10 planes, also with the potential for 10 more 787-10s.
This development is notable as it comes on the heels of Japan Airlines purchasing 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking the first acquisition of a single-aisle aircraft from a company other than Boeing. Similarly, reports indicated that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, traditionally a Boeing customer, suggesting a shift in preferences amidst ongoing challenges for Boeing.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, stated her honor at Korean Air’s choice of their widebody aircraft, emphasizing the longstanding relationship between the two entities and highlighting the 777X and 787 Dreamliner as vital to the airline’s future sustainability and growth plans.