All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines adapt fleets amid evolving aviation landscape

Over time, both airlines have shifted from four-engine widebody jets to more fuel-efficient twin-engine models like the Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and Airbus A350. This transition has been driven by fuel efficiency goals as well as environmental policies such as the Kyoto Protocol of 1997.

Recent years have seen increased adoption of Airbus aircraft by Japanese carriers. Factors influencing this include concerns about Boeing’s reliability and a desire for supplier diversification. Both ANA and JAL have also responded to growth in low-cost travel by launching budget subsidiaries—Air Japan under ANA and ZIPAIR Tokyo under JAL—transferring some Boeing 787-8s to these operations after cabin retrofits.

ANA operates three Airbus A380s exclusively on the Tokyo Haneda–Honolulu route, a result of its acquisition of Skymark Airlines’ assets in 2015. The airline is also awaiting delivery of Boeing 777-9s to replace older long-haul aircraft.

JAL began integrating Airbus A350s into its fleet in 2019 as part of a modernization effort to replace aging Boeing models. The airline has ordered additional Airbus A321neo aircraft to supplement its domestic operations and plans to introduce the Boeing 737 MAX series starting in fiscal year 2026.

Both airlines typically retain their aircraft for close to two decades due to their reliability and ongoing investments in maintenance and upgrades. Subsidiaries play a growing role; for instance, ANA recently acquired Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA), absorbing its fleet of eight Boeing 747-8 freighters.

ANA’s commitment to the Dreamliner family is evident with nearly 120 orders across three variants: the -8 for domestic routes, -9 for long-haul flights, and -10 for high-demand sectors like Tokyo Haneda–Sapporo Shin Chitose. According to Osamu Shinobe, senior advisor for ANA’s 787 fleet: "A key selling point of the aircraft is its cabin pressure system, which maintains humidity and air pressure at levels comparable to conditions on the ground."

The future strategies of both airlines reflect a balance between tradition and innovation as they adapt their fleets for operational efficiency, passenger comfort, market demand, technological advancements, and environmental requirements.