Japan Airlines has given Airbus another boost of orders with the airline purchasing 20 A350-900 and 11 A321neo aircraft. This was the carrier’s second order announced at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024.
Confirming its intentions
While the carrier announced the order at the event, in March 2024, Japan Airlines said that it would introduce 21 A350-900 and 11 A321neo aircraft as part of an effort to renew its fleet. At the time, the airline also stated that it would add ten Boeing 787-9s to its operations. The latest order has one fewer A350-900, yet the airline also intended to replace the A350-900 that was involved in the fatal accident at Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) in January.
Nevertheless, Yukio Nakagawa, senior vice president of procurement of Japan Airlines, said that it was an honor to make this announcement with Airbus and Christian Scherer, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Airbus Commercial Aircraft.
“Since its debut on domestic routes, our A350-900 has become our customer’s favourite. Wide and spacious cabin ensures passenger comfort.”
Nakagawa detailed that the A321neo would replace its aging Boeing 767 aircraft, with ch-aviation data showing that Japan Airlines has 25 Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, which, on average, are 17.5 years old.
Furthermore, while the A321XLR looked interesting to the airline, it has not made a decision on whether it would need the type. Japan Airlines is also yet to choose the engines to power its A321neos, with the CFM International LEAP-1A and Pratt & Whitney PW1100G being the two options.
New A321neo customer
However, while Japan Airlines has operated the A350-900 and A350-1000, the airline has not had any Airbus single-aisle aircraft. Its currently single-aisle jet fleet includes Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with Boeing also set to deliver 21 737 MAX 8 aircraft to the Japan-based carrier.
Scherer remarked that the manufacturer and the airline were celebrating a new milestone in their partnership with Japan Airlines ordering the A321neo.
“We are committed to providing our full support to Japan Airlines as its growing fleet is deployed on more routes across its network, both domestically and internationally.”
Japan Airlines expected Airbus to deliver the A350-900s and A321neos between 2028 and 2032. While the airline has used the A350-900 on domestic routes, it has planned to introduce the type on international flights as well, with the A350-1000 already flying outside of Japan.
Previous Japan Airlines order at Farnborough
Previously, Japan Airlines ordered 20 Boeing 787 aircraft, split between ten 787-9 aircraft and ten 787s, with the airline still deciding which variant of the type to go for.
While it was pretty much an all-Boeing day on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow on July 22, with Airbus only announcing two orders, the second day has so far been dominated by the European plane maker.
In addition to Japan Airlines buying Airbus aircraft, Virgin Atlantic also ordered seven A330-900 aircraft during the second day of the event.
Source: Simple Flying
