Japan Airlines Announces Plans to Order Airbus A321neo and Boeing 787s at Paris Airshow

Japan Airlines is reportedly eyeing an order for two aircraft types, the Airbus A321neo and Boeing 787, to refresh and grow its fleet.

The orders could come as soon as this month’s Paris Airshow, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. Japan Airlines is currently exploring future options for its fleet and aims to replace its aging Boeing 767, 777, and older 737 aircraft, the report added.

Boeing Orders and Deliveries data, as of April 30, 2023, showed that Japan Airlines has received a total of 52 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9s since the first delivery in March 2012. Its low-cost subsidiary, called ZIPAIR, has six 787-8 aircraft in its fleet.

In March 2023, the carrier ordered 21 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with the manufacturer scheduled to commence delivery in 2026.

In 2022, Japan Airlines only took delivery of two Airbus A350-900s, and no aircraft have been delivered from either Airbus or Boeing so far in 2023.

According to ch-aviation.com data, the Japanese carrier has a total of 15 Airbus A350s on order: two A350-900 and 13 A350-1000s.

Another Japanese airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA), has also hinted at a potential order during the upcoming Paris Airshow. Speaking at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Istanbul, Turkey, the airline’s chief executive officer (CEO), Shinichi Inoue, said that he was interested in growing its fleet of Boeing 787s.

“It is important for us to increase fuel efficient aircraft such as the 787 in the future,” Inoue said.

ANA was the launch customer of the Boeing 787, having taken delivery of the first aircraft of the type, a 787-8, in September 2011. The first commercial Boeing 787 flight was operated by the airline on October 26, 2011.