Boeing recently announced significant orders for its large aircraft, revealing that it has secured bookings for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This announcement comes in response to increased competition from Airbus, which had gained traction among these carriers following the January incident involving the 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to choose the 787 Dreamliner to modernize its fleet, emphasizing the longstanding relationship between the two companies.
The announcement coincides with the commencement of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event for the aerospace industry. Japan Airlines has committed to purchasing 10 Dreamliners with an option for 10 additional units. Meanwhile, Korean Air has ordered 20 of the 777-9 models and 20 Dreamliner 787-10 aircraft, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This partnership has gained significance amid reports that Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first instance of the airline purchasing a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo is a competitor to the 737 Max, which was undergoing production challenges at that time.
Furthermore, there were reports that Airbus had also sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which predominantly operates Boeing aircraft. This was viewed as a move against the 777x, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude to Korean Air for selecting Boeing’s largest and most efficient wide-body planes to enhance its global operations. She emphasized the importance of Boeing aircraft in Korean Air’s history and affirmed the role of the 777X and 787 Dreamliner in supporting the airline’s goals for sustainability and growth.