In March 2023, Japan Airlines announced plans to refresh its narrow body fleet, as the airline placed an order for 21 Boeing 737 MAXs. There’s now an update, as the airline has just boosted this order considerably, to 38 aircraft.
In this post:
Japan Airlines places firm order for 38 Boeing 737 MAXs
Japan Airlines (JAL) has now finalized an order for 38 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, which will join the fleet starting in 2026. The 737 MAX 8 is one of the smaller variants of the Boeing 737 MAX. It can ordinarily seat 162-178 passengers, with a range of 3,550 nautical miles. The plane will reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions by 15% compared to the previous generation aircraft that the airline flies.
Japan Airlines currently has an all-Boeing narrow body fleet, consisting of 43 Boeing 737-800s, which are an average of over 15 years old. These are used both for domestic flights within Japan, as well as for select short haul international flights. The 737 MAX 8s will replace most of the classic 737-800 fleet.
Japan Airlines has published some potential cabin renderings of the 737 MAX, which look intriguing. It seems like at least some of the 737 MAXs will be in a three class configuration, with some seats featuring direct aisle access and doors. Meanwhile it looks like another version of the 737 MAX will be in an all-economy layout.
Separately, in March 2024, Japan Airlines placed an order for 11 Airbus A321neos, which are primarily expected to replace domestic Boeing 767s, for flights out of Tokyo Haneda (HND).
Japan Airlines’ impressive fleet renewal project
In the past several years, Japan Airlines really has gone all-in on fleet renewal. Up until now, we’ve seen the airline take delivery of wide body planes in order to replace the Boeing 777 fleet. This has involved transitioning from Boeing planes to Airbus planes:
- Japan Airlines now has a dedicated Airbus A350-900 domestic fleet, which replaces the Boeing 777-200s
- Japan Airlines now has an Airbus A350-1000 international fleet, which replaces the Boeing 777-300ERs
But the transition goes beyond that. As mentioned in this post, Japan Airlines now has 38 Boeing 737 MAXs on order, plus 11 Airbus A321neos. On top of that, in March 2024, Japan Airlines ordered an additional 21 Airbus A350-900s plus 10 Boeing 787-9s, all of which will be used for long haul flights.
This all doesn’t just represent fleet renewal, but the airline actually plans considerable growth. By the end of the decade, Japan Airlines hopes to grow its international capacity by 40%, but that also factors in low cost carrier subsidiary ZIPAIR. 
Bottom line
Japan Airlines has placed an order for 38 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, which will join the carrier’s fleet starting in 2026. These planes will replace some of the existing 737-800s, and will reduce emissions by 15%. While I personally prefer the A320neo family to the 737 MAX family, I’m happy to see Japan Airlines refreshing its fleet, as this is a very impressive modernization.
What do you make of Japan Airlines’ Boeing 737 MAX order?
Glad to see JAL succeeding and growing. One of the best, if not the best, airline out there today.
Surely JAL executives are aware of the suspect build quality, flight safety record and impossibly difficult delivery delays with this platform?
There's politics involved, Japan doesn't want the ire of Mr. Trump for not buying US goods.
Sure, there's geopolitics involved, but the initial order was placed before the election. It'll be interesting to see what countries that rely heavily on U.S. support do. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan and their respective flag carriers placed major orders for Boeing a/c. The Philippines is an interesting case; they rely heavily on U.S. support, yet have a small Boeing fleet. And with their current administration making nice with the U.S., I'm sure Boeing orders...
Sure, there's geopolitics involved, but the initial order was placed before the election. It'll be interesting to see what countries that rely heavily on U.S. support do. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan and their respective flag carriers placed major orders for Boeing a/c. The Philippines is an interesting case; they rely heavily on U.S. support, yet have a small Boeing fleet. And with their current administration making nice with the U.S., I'm sure Boeing orders will be a part of that.
Tariffs on the other hand can complicate things.
He is not a Mr. he is insane!
Plus a Mr. does not use fake tanning products, wear makeup and have hair implants. That is something a trans would do! BTW I have no problems with trans people. ;)
As the article mentions, JAL's short-haul fleet is exclusively Boeing. Adding any Airbuses would complicate training and maintenance.
@Pat
JAL already uses a little bit of everything for their domestic flights as well as intra-Asia, and it appears they'll be downsizing from the 767 to the A321neo.
When the international-configured A359s start coming in, you can bet they'll be used intra-Asia as well in between long-haul flights.
As far as training is concerned, they already do mixed fleet flying.
In the end, it'll be the A321neo+A350 along with the 737MAX+787 family which is...
@Pat
JAL already uses a little bit of everything for their domestic flights as well as intra-Asia, and it appears they'll be downsizing from the 767 to the A321neo.
When the international-configured A359s start coming in, you can bet they'll be used intra-Asia as well in between long-haul flights.
As far as training is concerned, they already do mixed fleet flying.
In the end, it'll be the A321neo+A350 along with the 737MAX+787 family which is a simple, efficient fleet. (At least on the mainline side of things)
@AeroB13a
Surely JAL executives are aware of the fact that anti-Boeing agenda with this platform spreaded by snowflakes like you is a total lie not worth considering about.
"If it's Boeing, I ain't going" yes please, so I can fly without worrying about sharinga space with people like you.
I'd suggest Spirit for you, an airline full of dangerous passengers and with all-Airbus fleet.
Couldn't think of a better carrier than that for you.
Tut, tut, Eskimo fanboy/clone, your sense of humour failure is as obvious as your ability to bite at the slightest hint of click bait.
One never fails to draw in reality deniers.
I’m not surprised that someone who calls people snowflakes and seems like an unhinged MAGAt thinks that “spreaded” is a word and that “considering about” is grammatically correct. You seem awfully triggered, though; is your latest QAnon newsletter late?
@Pudu
Sorry that my English is bad because I'm not an American.
Don't you snowflakes call making fun of someone based on their English skills a racism?
Typical liberal hypocrisy.
And maybe the QAnon propaganda is arriving late. But I don't give a damn.
Why would I like a horde of braindeads thinking that the US election could be rigged?
You seem awfully triggeredx though: try again.
When everything is said and done, they'll have an efficient fleet with 2 types of each family. A320+A350 and 737+787. It'll be interesting to see what they plan to do with the 767s. And I would've loved to see some 787-10s for intra-Asia ops.
Hi Ben, I googled some Japanese media and avgeek blogs and the rendering of 3-class interior of 737-8 is purely the image. And it seems these 737-8s will replace domestic 737-800s (as shown in their press release) so I imagine it would be 2-class layout with Class J and economy seats.
Yeah it would be weird for them to turn it into all economy when Class J exists on those planes, which isn't even proper business class, it's actually a 2-3 config and it just makes the aisle more adjusted to the left, they don't actually increase the width of those seats iirc.