Boeing has announced significant new orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft. The company revealed on Monday that Japan Airlines and Korean Air have ordered up to 80 planes, marking a comeback for Boeing after recent setbacks, including an incident involving the 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s sales operations head, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to reaffirm its commitment to the 787 Dreamliner, emphasizing the importance of their longstanding relationship as the airline modernizes its fleet.
This announcement coincides with the Farnborough International Airshow, a prominent industry event. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners, with an option for 10 additional units. Meanwhile, Korean Air has committed to 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 airplanes, alongside an option for 10 more 787-10s.
The mention of the long-standing partnership with Japan Airlines serves as a counter to previous reports that Airbus had secured orders for 11 A321neo jets from the airline, marking its first acquisition of single-aisle aircraft from a non-Boeing manufacturer amidst the ongoing 737 Max crisis. Similarly, there were reports of Airbus selling wide-body jets to Korean Air, highlighting a shift in the airline’s purchasing strategy, which traditionally favored Boeing.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude to Korean Air for choosing Boeing’s 777X and 787 Dreamliner models, underlining their importance in the airline’s capacity expansion and sustainability goals as they continue to support growth over the next 50 years.