JAL to accelerate international network growth with order of 42 new aircraft

Following Japan Airlines‘ (JAL) board of directors meeting, the airline has announced the decision to introduce a total of 21 A350-900 and 11 A321neo aircraft from Airbus plus ten 787-9 aircraft from the Boeing Company, as part of its fleet renewal plan.

On international routes, JAL will introduce an additional 20 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, currently serving as the backbone of its domestic operations. Moreover, JAL plans to add ten Boeing 787-9 aircraft to its existing fleet of over 50 Boeing 787-series aircraft. 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 140%, 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 introduction of both aircraft types is planned over a period of approximately six years, starting in FY2027.

On domestic routes, JAL will introduce 21 Boeing 737-8 aircraft to replace its current Boeing 737-800 fleet, starting from 2026. Additionally, to update its existing fleet of medium-sized Boeing 767 aircraft, JAL has decided to introduce 11 Airbus A321neo aircraft. This marks the first-time introduction of Airbus A321neo aircraft for JAL. These aircraft will be strategically deployed on routes that align with demand, including to and from Haneda Airport, starting from 2028. Furthermore, JAL has also decided to introduce one additional Airbus A350-900 (domestic configured) as a replacement for the A350-900 aircraft that was lost in January 2024.