Japan Airlines Orders Up To 20 More Boeing 787 Dreamliners At Farnborough Airshow (2024)

Despite concerns that Boeing would have a quiet Farnborough International Airshow, the US planemaker is throwing that idea out the window as it announced yet another order on Day 1 of the show. Japan Airlines became the fourth Boeing customer of the day, signing an order for up to 20 more Dreamliners for its fleet, with the order being split between ten firm orders and ten options.

Japan Airlines makes four by lunchtime for Boeing

Hot on the heels of the morning’s announcements of 777Fs for National Airlines, 777Xs and 787-10s for Korean Air, and 737 MAX for Luxair, Japan Airlines has given Boeing its fourth order of the day. The Japanese flag carrier has placed an order for up to 20 additional 787 Dreamliners, something that was rumored back in March of this year. The order was split between ten 787-9 aircraft and ten 787 options.

The option variants were not decided, with the airline noting it was "keeping its options open" to see what the fleet's future needs are.

Deliveries are not set to start until 2028 – 2031, so there is plenty of time to make these decisions now that JAL secured its place in the production queue.

Photo: Joanna Bailey | Simple Flying

Speaking at the announcement, Yukio Nakagawa, senior vice president of procurement of Japan Airlines, commented on the importance of this aircraft type to the Japan Airlines fleet. He noted that, since the early days of the 787, it has been instrumental in expanding JAL’s network. He added that the airline has been working closely with Boeing to elevate the passenger experience onboard, but noted that the Dreamliner was already a highly praised aircraft by customers, who particularly enjoyed the remarkably quiet and comfortable cabin.

Brad McMullen, Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing of Boeing, the executive remarked that the 787 Dreamliner would not be the plane it is today without the leadership of Japan Airlines. He went on to thank Japan Airlines for sticking with Boeing through some of the more challenging times.

Boeing: bouncing back?

Announced just before lunchtime, the JAL order has set Boeing off on an incredible Farnborough International Airshow in a year when many feared the plane maker would have a quieter participation. Recent challenges with quality control meant the manufacturer took the decision not to bring any of its demonstration aircraft to the show, although there are other Boeing aircraft on the ground.

Photo: Abdul N Quraishi - Abs | Shutterstock

So far, the order tally for Boeing at this year's Farnborough International Airshow includes 78 aircraft, split as follows:

Japan Airlines 787 fleet

Currently, Japan Airlines has 55 787 aircraft in its fleet, split between 23 787-8 and 22 787-9s. However, it has already phased out six 787-8s, according to ch-aviation data, with Japan Airlines moving the six air frames, registered as JA822J, JA825J, JA826J, JA827J, JA828J, and JA824J, to its low-cost long-haul subsidiary, ZIPAIR Tokyo.