Japan Airlines (JAL) has unveiled today its ambitious fleet renewal plan, which includes the order of 21 Airbus A350-900, 10 Boeing 787-9, and 11 A321neo, aimed at both the domestic and international markets.
The 21 Airbus A350 were part of a purchase option made in 2023, which increases the firm order to twenty-three A350-900 and eleven A350-1000. These new acquisitions will be integrated into the fleet starting from 2027, replacing the current Boeing 777-300 (ER) of the airline.
On the other hand, the 10 ordered Boeing 787-9s are expected to be delivered in 2027, to complement the existing fleet of 22 aircraft of the same model and 31 Boeing 787-8, including those operated by its low-cost subsidiary, ZIPAIR.
According to a press release, these new wide-body aircraft will be aimed at strengthening JAL’s presence in North America, Asia-Pacific, and India.
Domestically, JAL plans to introduce 21 Boeing 737-8 planes, already previously ordered, to replace its current fleet of Boeing 737-800 starting from 2026. Additionally, to replace the Boeing 767-300 (ER), the airline has decided to incorporate 11 Airbus A321neo, with delivery scheduled from 2028. This will be JAL’s first narrow-body order from Airbus.
These new acquisitions will be strategically deployed on routes that match demand, including those from and to Haneda Airport, starting from 2028. Moreover, JAL has also decided to incorporate an additional Airbus A350-900, configured for domestic flights, as a replacement for the plane that was involved in an accident in January 2024.
