Japan Airlines and Korean Air have announced two major deals with Boeing, each committing to adding multiple widebody aircraft to their fleets in the coming years.

Two of Asia’s largest airlines have committed to modernizing their fleet with Boeing wide-body aircraft.

Japan Airlines and Korean Air have confirmed orders with the Chicago-based manufacturing giant, between them ordering a combination of more than 60 777X and 787 Dreamliner airframes.

JAL Takes 20 Dreamliners, Korean Orders 50 Widebodies

Both orders were confirmed during the biennial Farnborough Air Show in the United Kingdom. Each carrier’s order consists of different aircraft types to continue modernizing their fleets.

For Japan Airlines, the carrier will take on a firm order of 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with an option for 10 more in the future. Once delivered, the airline will have over 60 Dreamliners operating in their fleet. This brings the total number of aircraft on order to 31 – in addition to the 10 Dreamliners, Japan Airlines also has 21 737 MAX aircraft waiting to be delivered.

At Korean Air, the new order comes ahead of their long planned merger with Asiana Airlines. Their order of 50 aircraft will consist of 20 Boeing 777-9 airframes, along with 30 787-10 Dreamliners, nearly doubling their book of 787 orders. The new orders are part of the airlines’ fleet renewal program, with the goal of flying the new aircraft on high-demand routes in Europe and North America.

According to Boeing, the 777-9 offers the next step up from the 787 Dreamliner in terms of efficiency and reduced emissions. With carbon-fiber composite wings, the manufacturer says the new aircraft will offer airlines 10% better fuel efficiency, CO2 emissions and operating costs compared to the Dreamliner.

Feature image courtesy: Boeing