Boeing has recently secured significant orders for its largest aircraft, announcing on Monday that Japan Airlines and Korean Air have committed to purchasing up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes. This comes after Airbus had gained traction with these airlines during earlier issues with Boeing’s 737 Max. The recent orders indicate that Boeing is actively countering its competitor’s advances.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to reselect the 787 Dreamliner as they continue to upgrade their fleet. This announcement coincides with the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, an important event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners with an option for 10 additional aircraft, while Korean Air has placed an order for twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, with a possibility of acquiring ten more 787-10s.
The mention of a “long-standing partnership” is notable in light of a report from March indicating that Japan Airlines had purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus. This marked the airline’s first venture into single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing during a time of turmoil for the 737 Max line, which was facing a production slowdown amid controversy.
Similarly, it was reported that Airbus sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air during the same period, despite the airline’s predominantly Boeing fleet. This move was interpreted as a rebuttal to the 777x, which has only recently approached regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude for Korean Air’s decision to select Boeing’s largest and most efficient widebody planes, highlighting the long-standing relationship between Boeing and Korean Air over the last 50 years. She noted that the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will play a key role in supporting the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives.