Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. On Monday, the manufacturer revealed that it has secured orders for up to 80 planes, marking a strong response to competition from Airbus, which had made inroads with these airlines during Boeing’s recent challenges with the 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed appreciation for the ongoing partnership with Japan Airlines, noting their decision to select the 787 Dreamliner as part of their fleet modernization efforts. The announcement was made at the Farnborough International Airshow, a prominent event in the aviation industry.
Japan Airlines has committed to 10 Dreamliners, with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has ordered 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, also with the option for 10 more 787-10s.
This announcement comes in the wake of a Reuters report highlighting Airbus’s sale of 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking a significant shift as it was the airline’s first single-aisle purchase from a manufacturer other than Boeing. Additionally, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which primarily operates Boeing aircraft, signaling a potential snub to Boeing’s 777x model still awaiting regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, remarked on Korean Air’s selection of Boeing’s wide-body aircraft, emphasizing their long-standing collaboration and the essential role Boeing planes have played in the airline’s operations over the past 50 years.