ANA’s parent company will buy at least 77 aircraft from Boeing, Airbus and Embraer in a rare simultaneous deal with the world’s top three commercial plane-makers, according to people familiar with the matter.
Japan’s largest airline won approval from its board of directors to buy at least 18 widebody 787-9 Dreamliners and 12 737-8 Max single-aisle jets from Boeing, according to one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private.
It will also add 27 Airbus A321neo airliners, including three of the XLR longest-range single-aisle planes, and 20 E190-E2 regional jets from Brazil’s Embraer, the people said.
The composition and size of the final order could still change after options and purchase rights are factored in, the people said.
The purchase underscores ANA’s ambitions to exceed its pre-pandemic fleet size by 2030 and capitalize on the boom in global air travel demand. Shinichi Inoue, chief executive officer of the group’s flagship airline ANA, said last year the carrier was considering further purchases of large aircraft as planemakers run out of slots to build jets into the end of the decade.
The carrier is also looking to replace its fleet of older Boeing 767s, a midsize widebody no longer being made for passenger use, and its remaining 737s.
ANA’s order would give a much-needed boost for Boeing from one of its best customers as the planemaker tries to shake off a tumultuous period that’s included management upheaval and delivery delays after a near-catastrophic 737 Max door blowout triggered regulatory scrutiny.
Boeing has also been on the back foot in Asia, where it’s come second place in a series of key sales campaigns including for Cathay Pacific Airways, Japan Airlines and Eva Airways. It’s recently picked up momentum, however, securing deals with China Airlines and Thai Airways International.
But the simultaneous purchase of Airbus and Embraer jets as well signals ANA’s need to expand its procurement at a time when planemakers are in high demand — and it’s unusual for an airline to purchase from the three aircraft manufacturers at the same time.
ANA was the launch customer of the Boeing 787 and is the largest global operator, with 86 of the type in fleet and a further 10 on order. ANA also has 18 777-9s and 20 737 Max single-aisle jets yet to be delivered.
The carrier has a fleet of around 240 mostly Boeing-made aircraft and also controls budget carrier Peach Aviation, which has an all-Airbus fleet of 37 single-aisle jets.
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