JAL Firms Order For Airbus Narrowbodies and Widebodies

Japan Airlines (JAL) firmed an MoU from March for 11 Airbus A321neos and 20 Airbus A350-900s, for delivery by 2032.

The purchase agreement, finalized at Farnborough on Tuesday, was for 19 rather than 20 A350-900s. This is because one aircraft was firmed in May to replace a JAL A350-900 that was destroyed when it collided with a Japan Coast Guard De Havilland Canada Dash 8-Q300 on landing in January.

During an Airbus briefing at Farnborough, JAL SVP procurement Yukio Nakagawa confirmed the remainder of the Airbus MoU. The narrowbodies and widebodies will deliver between 2028 and 2032, with the A321neos replacing JAL’s Boeing 767s in the Japanese domestic market. “There was no direct replacement,” Nakagawa said.

He declined to comment on whether there were any options or purchase rights included in the Airbus order.

Nakagawa said JAL already operates 15 A350-900s, which are primarily used to serve domestic routes. He added that Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Christian Scherer “repeatedly” tried to sell JAL A350s for its international routes, culminating in JAL taking delivery of its first A350-1000s for intercontinental flights in December 2023.

“At this point, we are very confident that the A350 is suited to international routes,” Nakagawa said. “The A350-900 will debut on international routes in the near future.”

To date, JAL has ordered a total of 52 A350s, with 18 in service. The A321neo contract is JAL’s first order from the Airbus single-aisle product line.

When asked whether JAL was facing any interiors-related delays to its A350-1000s, Nakagawa said “almost all airlines” had been affected and there was “some impact.”

“We are striving to manage this situation,” Nakagawa said. “We have not disclosed the timing of the next airplane yet.”

The A321neos and A350-900s will be used primarily for fleet renewals, although the order also includes some scope for fleet and network growth.

During the first day of Farnborough, Nakagawa also firmed an order for 10 firm Boeing 787-9s plus 10 options, which was also first announced in March alongside the Airbus MoU.

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