Japan Airlines is set to put the Airbus A350-900 on international routes, senior vice-president of procurement Yukio Nakagawa has confirmed as the carrier firmed orders for 20 of the type along with 11 A321neos.
JAL had previously indicated in March that it would add 21 A350-900s to its fleet.
The carrier subsequently firmed a single A350-900 in late April, a replacement for the jet destroyed in a runway collision at Tokyo Haneda on 2 January.
JAL disclosed a firm agreement for the other 20 A350s, plus 11 A321neos, on 23 July.
“Since it debuted on domestic routes the A350-900 has become a customer favourite,” Nakagawa says, adding that the jet is “quiet and spacious”.
He says that Airbus has encouraged the carrier to deploy the A350 on international routes.
The airline has started using the larger -1000 on services to New York, and Nakagawa says JAL will put the -900 on the “international stage in the near future”.
Nakagawa says the fleet renewal is intended partly to replace its older domestic Boeing 767s but there will also be a network expansion component.
The carrier has separately ordered up to 20 Boeing 787-9s for further modernisation.
Although the Airbus jets will not start arriving until 2028, Nakagawa does not expect to lease capacity in the interim.
No engine selection has been made for the A321neos, nor does the carrier have details on configuration.
Nakagawa adds that the airline has not decided on the future of its regional airliner fleet – although he signals that this process will “start sometime soon” – or whether it intends any change to its freighter operations, following its relatively recent introduction of 767-300ER cargo aircraft.
Amended to correct Yukio Nakagawa’s job title
