JAL’s Latest 787 Order to Start Deliveries in 2028

Boeing SVP sales & marketing Brad McMullen and JAL procurement SVP Yukio Nakagawa

Boeing SVP sales & marketing Brad McMullen and JAL procurement SVP Yukio Nakagawa at the MoU briefing.

Credit: Victoria Moores/ATW

Japan Airlines (JAL) has firmed an MoU for up to 20 Boeing 787-9s that was announced earlier this year.

In March, JAL announced plans to take 11 Airbus A321neos, 21 Airbus A350-900s and the 787-9s.

During a Boeing briefing at Farnborough on Monday, JAL procurement SVP Yukio Nakagawa confirmed the 787 MoU, which will comprise 10 firm 787-9s and 10 options.

Nakagawa said the aircraft will be delivered over a four-year period, between 2028 and 2031. JAL has the potential to switch the options to the larger -10 variant, but this will depend on demand, and no decision has been taken yet.

JAL has operated 787s since 2012 and has over 50 of the type. The additional aircraft will be used to support growing passenger demand in Asia, India and North America.

“We decided to purchase both types of aircraft [A350s and 787s] to get maximum flexibility, depending on passenger demand,” Nakagawa said.

In June, JAL indicated that it was also evaluating regional jets and turboprops to refresh its regional and domestic fleet. The group wants to begin replacing the regional aircraft from 2028-2029, with an order anticipated around 2025.

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Victoria Moores

Victoria Moores joined Air Transport World as our London-based European Editor/Bureau Chief on 18 June 2012. Victoria has nearly 20 years’ aviation industry experience, spanning airline ground operations, analytical, journalism and communications roles.

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