Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced plans to introduce 42 new aircraft from Airbus and Boeing.
Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced plans to introduce 42 new aircraft from Airbus and Boeing.
Following a meeting of its board of directors, the Tokyo-based carrier announced the 42 aircraft it plans to acquire will include a total of 32 narrowbody and widebody aircraft from Airbus – 21 A350-900 and 11 A321neo – and 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
According to JAL, the additional 20 A350-900s will be introduced on international routes. As the airline currently uses the widebody Airbus jets as the backbone of its domestic operations, one of the A350s ordered will have a domestic configuration and replace the A350-900 aircraft lost as a result of a collision with a Japan Coast Guard Dash-8 at Tokyo's Haneda Airport in January 2024.
Along with the introduction of the A350-900s on international routes, the 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners will add to its existing fleet of 50 787s.
“These new aircraft introductions aim to enhance and expand the capacity of JAL’s international operations, with a primary focus on regions such as North America, Asia, and India where future growth is expected. As of 2030, JAL aims to expand and grow its international network, increasing the combined supply capacity of both full-service carriers and low-cost carriers (LCCs) by approximately 1.4 times, while also accelerating the adoption of the latest fuel-efficient aircraft to provide customers with the best possible service and further reduce CO2 emissions,” the airline said in a statement.
JAL plans to introduce both aircraft types on international routes – the A350 and 787s - over a period of six years starting in FY2027. The domestic A350 replacement for the aircraft lost in January 2024 is expected to start operations in FY2025.
Within Japan, JAL will introduce the A321neo aircraft to update the existing fleet of medium-sized Boeing 767 aircraft.
“These aircraft will be strategically deployed on routes that align with demand, including to and from Haneda Airport, starting from 2028,” JAL said regarding the A321neos.
Separately, JAL previously stated it will introduce 21 Boeing 737-8 (737 MAX 8) aircraft to replace its fleet of Boeing 737-800s operating domestic flight within Japan starting from 2026.
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