Aviation

ANA Reaches Agreement with Boeing for Advanced Passenger and Cargo Aircraft

Agreement formalizes partially converting the order for Boeing 777-9 aircraft to include Boeing 777-8F cargo aircraft
Finalizes purchase agreement for Boeing 737-8

TOKYO, July 11, 2022 – ANA HOLDINGS INC. (hereinafter “ANA HD”) today announced that it has reached an agreement with The Boeing Company to convert two orders for the Boeing 777-9 aircraft to Boeing 777-8F cargo aircraft, and finalized its existing purchase agreement for 30 Boeing 737-8 aircraft. The announcement reflects ANA HD’s plan to further expand its cargo business through securing large freighters and to replace the domestic fleet’s smaller planes with more fuel-efficient aircraft that will serve as the foundation for future growth.

Initial Announcement

Updated Announcement

Number of aircraft

(changes in underline)

Boeing 777-9: 20 aircraft

Boeing 777-9: 18 aircraft

Boeing 777-8F: 2 aircraft

Boeing 737-8: 30 aircraft

(20 confirmed, 10 optional)

*Order announced on Jan. 29, 2019

Boeing 737-8: 30 aircraft

(20 confirmed, 10 optional)

Finalized purchase agreement

Conversion to Boeing 777-8F aircraft

At a meeting of the Board of Directors held today on July 11, 2022, ANA HD decided to convert two of the 20 Boeing 777-9 aircraft that had been initially announced on March 27, 2014, with Boeing 777-8F cargo aircraft. The aircraft will be introduced into service on/after fiscal 2028.

The Boeing 777-8F is a state-of-the-art freighter that has the largest cargo capacity of any twin-engine aircraft, and has reduced CO2 emissions and operational costs that uses less fuel per ton.

Finalized purchase agreement of Boeing 737-8 (Boeing 737 MAX series) aircraft

The ANA Group today finalized its agreement for the purchase of Boeing 737-8 aircraft (20 confirmed and 10 optional), which was previously announced on January 29, 2019. The introduction of the aircraft is scheduled to begin in fiscal 2025.

The Boeing 737-8 had been suspended worldwide for approximately 1 year and 9 months due to two accidents. The FAA approved the resumption of operations of this aircraft in November 2020 with modifications to its system that were identified to be factors that led to the accidents and review in the crew training methods. As of today, 46 airlines worldwide have resumed operations of this aircraft, and it has been operating smoothly without any operational issues.

As the latest model in the Boeing 737 series, the Boeing 737 MAX family is equipped with next-generation engines with improved fuel efficiency, and its cutting-edge winglets (Advanced Technology Winglets) are expected to reduce fuel consumption by approximately 15 percent compared to the existing Boeing 737 NG model. The new aircraft will be introduced to replace the Boeing 737-800, which are currently in operation on domestic routes, and will offer a more spacious and comfortable cabin with less noise than the existing model.

ANA Group will continue to achieve the various initiatives in its growth strategy while raising safety as the foundation of its management and at the same time, strive to improve the quality and service for our customers.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.