Japan Airlines (JAL) has taken delivery of its 100th Boeing 747, cementing its position as the world's biggest customer for the type. The delivery comes amid fears over the its future fleet plans.
Commenting on how Asia's economic downturn is affecting JAL's fleet planning, airline president Isao Kaneko says that this will remain unclear until the coming year's fiscal plan is complete by the end of January. JAL cannot count on a full economic recovery in the Asia-Pacific market "for some years", he says.
JAL fleet orders include 15 more Boeing 747-400s, two 767-300s, eight 777s, including -200s and -300s, and two 737-400s. JAL has 82 747s in service, including two of the earliest -100 series, and 35 of the latest -400s, used on long-range international routes and domestic Japanese routes.
Source: Flight International
