Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The planemaker revealed on Monday that it secured orders for up to 80 planes. This announcement comes after Airbus gained some ground with these carriers during the fallout from Boeing’s 737 Max issues in January, indicating that Boeing is actively seeking to regain its position.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed appreciation for the ongoing partnership with Japan Airlines, which has opted for 10 Dreamliners with an option for 10 additional units. Korean Air has ordered twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This news was revealed at the Farnborough International Airshow, a prominent industry event. The references to long-standing partnerships highlight a recent development where Japan Airlines purchased 11 Airbus A321neo jets, marking a shift as it was the first time the airline acquired a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing.
Similarly, reports indicated that Airbus sold a number of wide-body jets to Korean Air, which has historically favored Boeing planes for its fleet. This was interpreted as a sign of dissatisfaction with the 777X, which has been slow to receive regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, noted the importance of Boeing’s aircraft in Korean Air’s operations over the past 50 years, emphasizing that the new 777X and 787 Dreamliner will help the airline achieve its sustainability and growth objectives.