Japan Airlines announced on Thursday plans to buy 42 new aircraft from Airbus and Boeing as part of a multi-billion-dollar plan to build its international route network, as well as fleet renewal of older, less fuel-efficient aircraft.
The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus won the lion’s share of Thursday’s order, with Japan Airlines securing 21 widebody A350-900 aircraft, along with 11 narrowbody A321neo jets.
Meanwhile, beleaguered aerospace giant Boeing won a small vote of confidence from Japan Airlines with an order for ten new 787-9 Dreamliners, which will add to JAL’s existing fleet of 50 Dreamliner aircraft.
Japan Airlines already owns 16 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, but these are currently only used for domestic services, whereas the new order will be used to primarily “enhance and expand” JAL’s international operations.
The airline says the A350-900s and 787-9s will be used to expand JAL’s presence in North America, Asia, and India, where the carrier expects growth in the coming years.
Japan Airlines is expected to receive the aircraft from this order in 2027, and it will take around six years for the entire order to be fulfilled. One of the A350-900s will be configured for domestic operations to replace the aircraft that was destroyed in January when it crashed into a Coast Guard aircraft at Narita Airport.
The Airbus A321neos will be used to replace JAL’s ageing fleet of Boeing 767 aircraft from 2028 and will be primarily based at Tokyo Haneda Airport.
