All Nippon Airways (ANA) has converted its order for four Boeing 787-8s, due to be delivered from the 2013 fiscal year, to the -9 variant.
"The decision to order more of the larger 787-9 variant will give ANA greater flexibility as it expands its international route network," the carrier said in a statement.
The launch customer of the 787 has 55 of the aircraft type on order. This consists of 36 -8s and 19 -9s.
To date, ANA has taken delivery of seven -8s, operating them on domestic services as well as its long-haul Haneda-Frankfurt route.
The carrier plans to introduce long-haul 787 services from Tokyo to Seattle and San Jose in this fiscal year.
The Japanese carrier reported a 20.9% increase in its net income for the financial year ended 31 March 2012 to yen (Y) 28.1 billion ($355 million). It expects its net income to grow by Y11.8 billion from the figures posted in 2011 to Y40 billion in 2012.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
