Japan Airlines Seeks Up to 70 Jets in Regional Fleet Overhaul

Japan Airlines Co. has received bids from manufacturers for up to 70 regional and turboprop planes to replace the domestic fleet serving areas outside major metropolitan areas, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Tokyo-based national carrier is looking for about 40 regional single-aisle jets as part of a deal that will pit the Airbus SE A220 model against the Embraer SA E2, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is confidential. JAL is also looking for up to 30 turboprop aircraft, sources said.

Deals may include firm orders and options and may vary in size and composition by individual. The airline plans to make a decision by the end of the current financial year, sources said.

A JAL spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

The airline plans to streamline the number of jet types it operates to increase efficiency and cost savings. JAL has also long considered expanding the use of smaller planes, which typically carry around 100 passengers or fewer, as Japan’s aging and shrinking population reshapes air travel preferences and future demand.

In its 2025 annual report, JAL said it was deciding on new aircraft types for its domestic regional jet fleet and monitoring future demand trends.

The airline is owned by Osaka-based J-Air and Hokkaido Air System Co. Its subsidiaries, including its subsidiaries, currently operate approximately 52 Embraer jets and a combination of ATR and De Havilland Aircraft of Canada turboprops.

The deal for regional aircraft includes JAL’s purchase of several dozen new Airbus and Boeing Co. It adds to its multi-year commitments for wide-body, single-aisle aircraft.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to the text.