Japan Airlines (JAL) has finalised a significant order for 31 Airbus aircraft, comprising 20 A350-900 widebody jets and 11 A321neo single-aisle planes.
The deal, announced at the Farnborough Air Show 2024, marks a substantial expansion of JAL’s Airbus fleet and includes the airline’s first order for Airbus narrow-body aircraft.
Yukio Nakagawa, Executive Officer and Senior Vice President Procurement of Japan Airlines, said the order would help modernise the carrier’s fleet.
“We will accelerate the introduction of the state-of-the-art and fuel-efficient aircraft to provide our passengers with excellent service and to reduce CO₂ emissions,” Mr Nakagawa said.
The A350-900s will be used on international routes, while the A321neos are slated for domestic services within Japan.
This order brings JAL’s total A350 orders to 52, with 18 already in service.
Christian Scherer, Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, welcomed the deal as a milestone in the company’s relationship with JAL.
“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,” Mr Scherer said.
Airbus highlighted the environmental benefits of both aircraft types, noting that the A321neo offers more than 20% fuel savings and CO₂ reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft.
The manufacturer also emphasised that all its aircraft can currently operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with plans to increase this to 100% by 2030.
The A350 has secured over 1,300 firm orders from 60 customers worldwide, while the A321neo has received more than 6,400 orders from over 90 global customers.
This order represents a significant boost for Airbus in the competitive Japanese aviation market and underscores the growing importance of fuel-efficient aircraft in airlines’ fleet strategies.
