Japan Airlines newest Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner Customer

Japan Airlines Corporation (JAL) has selected the Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner as its next generation mid-sized twin aisle aircraft. JAL's requirement for 30 firm deliveries and 20 options will be fulfilled with a combination of 7E7-3s and 7E7-8s.

Deliveries are to begin in 2008, as replacements for JAL's Boeing 767s and Airbus A300-600s. The airline has not yet made a decision on which engines will power its planes.

"In selecting the 7E7, Japan Airlines continues to demonstrate leadership and vision for the future of commercial aviation,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally. "The 7E7 will provide JAL the best in efficiency, economics, and reliability, and it will provide passengers with unprecedented levels of comfort while taking them where they want to go, when they want to go, non-stop, point-to-point anywhere in the world."

Japan Airlines is the latest 7E7 launch customer, joining ANA (All Nippon Airways), Air New Zealand, Blue Panorama, First Choice and Primaris Airlines. Customer-announced orders for the 7E7 now total 112 airplanes, with 56 under firm contract.

“The 7E7 will be the key airplane on a variety of domestic and international routes and will provide outstanding flexibility in our route planning,” said Takenori Matsumoto, senior managing director, Japan Airlines Corp. “We are very excited about the benefits of the 7E7 and the wonderful flying experience that it will provide our customers.”

The 7E7 family includes three airplanes seating 200 to 300 passengers that will fly between 3,500 and 8,500 nautical miles (6,500 to 16,000 kilometers).

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