Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes. The airline manufacturer revealed on Monday that it secured commitments for up to 80 aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This move follows a period during which Airbus gained traction with these carriers, stemming from issues related to Boeing’s 737 Max aircraft.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s sales operations head, expressed appreciation for Japan Airlines’ decision to re-select the 787 Dreamliner as the airline modernizes its fleet. The announcement coincides with the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines is set to acquire 10 Dreamliners with the option for 10 additional units. Korean Air has committed to 20 models of the 777-9 and 20 of the 787-10, along with the option for 10 more 787-10s.
This renewed partnership comes after a Reuters report in March highlighted that Japan Airlines purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking its first acquisition of a single-aisle aircraft from a competitor of Boeing. This was significant as the A321neo is a direct rival to the troubled 737 Max during a time of production slowdown for Boeing.
Similarly, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had also sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which predominantly operates Boeing aircraft. This was perceived as a rejection of Boeing’s 777X model, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, voiced her gratitude to Korean Air for choosing Boeing’s largest and most efficient widebody aircraft. She highlighted the historical significance of Boeing aircraft to Korean Air over the past 50 years and emphasized their role in supporting the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives.