Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft, revealing that Japan Airlines and Korean Air have placed orders for up to 80 planes. This development, announced on Monday, indicates that the U.S. manufacturer is actively responding to competition from French rival Airbus, which had made inroads with these carriers following the troubles surrounding Boeing’s 737 Max in January.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, stated, “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.”
The announcement coincides with the opening of the Farnborough International Airshow, a prominent event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners with an option for 10 additional units, while Korean Air has requested 20 of the 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, also with options for 10 more 787-10s.
This order comes after a report in March indicating that Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the airline’s first purchase of a single-aisle plane from Airbus instead of Boeing. The A321neo competes directly with the 737 Max, which was facing scrutiny and production issues at the time.
Additionally, reports suggested that Airbus had secured several wide-body aircraft orders from Korean Air, historically a Boeing-heavy fleet. This was perceived as a setback for Boeing’s 777X, which has recently begun the path to regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude for Korean Air’s choice, saying, “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.”