It was ironical that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which the Chicago-based plane-maker touted as "Made With Japan", would become the fracture point of Boeing's iron grip on Japan where it holds a 80% market share as the island nation's carriers started purchasing Boeing aircraft in the 1980s as a means to remedy the significant current account surplus its government has with its transpacific ally.
Coupled with the wide industrial footprint Boeing has in Japan, whose first-tier suppliers build 21% of the 777, including the centre wing box by Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) the rear pressure bulkhead and part and the whole of the forward and mid-section, respectively, as well as the 35% work share on the 787 with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) building its supercritical carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) wing, Japan seems to be a formidable fortress for Boeing.
↧