Japan Airlines (JAL) is reportedly in the final stages of a potential order for long-haul widebody aircraft.
According to Reuters, sources familiar with developments said that Japan Airlines is in the market for around a dozen widebody planes, with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner expected to at least form part of the order.
Among Japan Airlines’ current widebody aircraft are 18 Airbus A350-900s, 22 Boeing 787-9s and 30 787-8s. The airline also began operating the A350-1000 in January 2024.
Currently, there is a real appetite for widebody aircraft in the Asian market after its long-haul industry was severely hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, as confidence among airlines grows the widebody appears to be the aircraft of choice to solve long term ambitions.
Only this month it was reported that Korean Air is close to placing a significant order with Airbus for its A350 widebody long-haul aircraft.
The airline plans to buy around 20 A350 jets, according to sources close to the negotiations who spoke to Bloomberg.
In February 2024, Thai Airways secured multiple deals to acquire widebody aircraft including an order for 45 Boeing 787-9 aircraft that was announced at the Singapore Airshow.
Then on February 21, 2024, also in Singapore, Thai Airways and lessor AerCap announced that the national flag carrier would lease a mix of Boeing and Airbus aircraft.
As part of the agreement Thai Airways agreed to lease 10 Airbus A321NEO aircraft, four Airbus A350-900s (two already delivered) and three Boeing 787-9s.
And finally on February 26, 2024, a new long-term lease agreement was signed between Thai Airways and Air Lease Corporation for three 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, expected to be delivered in 2025.
