JAL to sign major Airbus order

Japan Airlines (JAL) is to sign a major aircraft order with Airbus, challenging Boeing’s dominance in the Japanese market as it struggles with its troubled Dreamliner.

JAL said that it would hold a press conference in Tokyo at 3.00 pm (0600 GMT) with Airbus chief Fabrice Bregier and JAL head Yoshiharu Ueki, but declined to comment on details of the announcement.

Dow Jones Newswires, quoting two people familiar with the matter, said that the firms would announce a new order. It did not specify the number of planes involved or a price tag.

An earlier report by Japan’s leading

Nikkei business daily said JAL was eyeing as many as two dozen Airbus A350 planes worth an estimated €5.0 billion ($6.8 billion).

The move would mark the first time that JAL has purchased Airbus planes, although a former domestic unit had previously ordered aircraft from the France-based carrier.

The push by the European plane maker comes as JAL and domestic rival All Nippon Airways — whose fleet is also dominated by Boeing aircraft — have been sideswiped by problems with the Dreamliner.