©Reuters. A Japan Airlines (JAL) plane approaches landing as Tokyo Skytree, the world’s tallest transmission tower, is seen in the background, at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Japan, January 5, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato/file photo
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan Airlines plans to buy 42 jets from April 2025 to March 2034 for a list price of about $12.39 billion as it aims to increase fuel efficiency and expand international services, it said. the airline said Thursday.
A robust recovery in passenger demand also helped JAL raise its group net profit forecast to 90 billion yen ($596 million) for the current year ending in March, up from 80 billion yen. The latest estimate beat the average profit forecast of 85.4 billion yen from 10 analysts at IBES.
Japan’s second-largest airline plans to buy 21 Airbus wide-body A350-900 planes and 10 Boeing (NYSE:) 787 Dreamliners, the company said in a statement.
It also plans to buy 11 A321neo narrow-body jets between fiscal years 2025 and 2033.
High-efficiency jets are in high demand as international travel nears full recovery from the pandemic and has spilled over into competition for engine and maintenance contracts.
JAL said it aims to maintain and improve its competitiveness by introducing cutting-edge aircraft.
($1 = 150.9600 yen)