summary
- Japan Airlines has ordered 42 planes, adding a non-Boeing narrowbody aircraft for the first time.
- The Airbus A321neo will replace the medium-sized Boeing 767.
- The new order includes 10 Boeing 787-9 aircraft for international expansion to North America, Asia and India.
Japan Airlines has announced orders for 42 Boeing and Airbus aircraft, including its first purchase of non-Boeing narrowbody aircraft.
Other Airbus aircraft
As reported a few days ago, Japan Airlines is close to placing an order for the aircraft, which was announced today. After the board meeting, Japan Airlines announced orders for 42 aircraft, divided into Airbus A350-900s, Airbus A321neos, and Boeing 787-9s. Of the 42 aircraft, only 10 will be from Boeing, with Airbus on order for 32. In the announcement, the airline said it does not plan to begin accepting aircraft until 2027.
Japan Airlines is close to ordering approximately 20 wide-body aircraft
Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner is also reportedly part of the deal.
There are two important points about this command. First, Japan Airlines plans to introduce the Airbus A350-900 aircraft on its international flights, which is currently a key component of its domestic flight operations. Second, for the first time in the company’s history, it will add a non-Boeing narrowbody aircraft, the Airbus A321neo. As for widebodies, the company announced that it plans to add another domestic A350-900 to replace the aircraft lost in the Tokyo disaster earlier this year.
Photo: Kittikun Yoksap | Shutterstock
Today’s order includes 10 787-9 Dreamliners, adding to the airline’s existing fleet of more than 50 aircraft. The 787 will continue to be used to expand Japan Airlines’ international network, with a focus on North America, Asia, and India, where future growth is expected.
“JAL will expand its combined capacity as a full-service carrier and low-cost carrier (LCC) by approximately 1.4 times by 2030, accelerate the introduction of the latest fuel-efficient aircraft, and expand and expand its international network. We aim to grow: our aircraft will provide our customers with the best possible service and further reduce our CO2 emissions.”
According to the announcement, the Airbus A321neos will be used to “replace existing medium-sized Boeing 767 aircraft.” As mentioned above, this will be the first narrowbody aircraft operated by Japan Airlines other than Boeing. The airline has ordered 11 of its A321neos, in addition to a narrowbody fleet update that includes the Boeing 737 MAX 8 (737-8) to replace the Boeing 737-800.
Japan Airlines currently has 76 aircraft on order, including 21 previously purchased MAX 8s, with deliveries expected to begin in 2026. The breakdown is as follows.
- Boeing 737 MAX 8-21
- Airbus A321neo – 11
- Airbus A350-900 – 23
- Airbus A350-1000 – 11
- Boeing 787-9~10
current fleet
According to ch-aviation data, Japan Airlines’ current fleet consists of 191 aircraft, of which 45 are wet leased. The Japanese airline has been committed to Boeing since its founding in 1951, but ordered its first Airbus aircraft in 2013. Currently, out of JAL’s 145 aircraft, only 17 are Airbus aircraft, divided into 15 A350-900s and two A350-1000s.
First look: Inside Japan Airlines’ Airbus A350-1000, packed with new and unique features
Take a sneak peek at JAL’s first A350-1000 and the interesting details incorporated into the cabin design.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
Narrowbodies make up a small portion of the fleet, with only 42 737-800s. Most of JAL’s domestic flights are operated by widebody aircraft, and some flights can be as short as one hour. Data shows that in addition to its small fleet of 737s, the airline has 14 ATR aircraft (12 ATR 42-600s and two ATR 72-600s) and 32 Embraer E-jets (18 E170s). and 14 E190 aircraft) are currently on wet lease.
