ANA to add up to 20 Boeing 787s to fleet

Airline plans to use large Dreamliners to replace some domestic 777 models slated for retirement.

Japanese airline group ANA Holdings Inc. will acquire up to 20 more Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplanes. The agreement with Boeing includes 11 787-10s, one 787-9 and options for five 787-9s valued at more than $5 billion at list prices. The airline also plans to acquire three new 787-9 airplanes from Atlantis Aviation Corp.

Once the agreements are finalized, ANA's sixth order for the Dreamliner will bring its overall 787 order book to more than 100 airplanes.

"Boeing's 787s have served ANA with distinction, and we are proud to expand our fleet by adding more of these technologically advanced aircraft," said Yutaka Ito, executive vice president of ANA and ANA Holdings. "These planes represent a significant step forward for ANA as we work to make our entire fleet even more eco-friendly and further reduce noise output."

With this order, the airline will add 11 of the largest 787-10 Dreamliner models to its fleet. The airplane allows operators to achieve 25% better fuel efficiency per seat compared to older airplanes in its class.

ANA sees the 787-10 as the perfect airplane to replace previous domestic 777 models that are slated for retirement.

"Introducing the 787-10 on our domestic routes will help ANA Group maintain its leadership role and improve our ability to operate as a responsible corporate citizen," Ito said.

ANA became the global launch customer of the 787 Dreamliner when it placed its initial order in 2004. Since then, ANA has become the world's biggest 787 operator with 71 airplanes in its fleet and 12 more to be delivered prior to the latest agreement.

ANA is also in the launch customer group for Boeing's 777X.

The 787 Dreamliner is playing a role in reducing global carbon emissions. Since the first 787 entered commercial service in 2011, the Dreamliner family has saved more than 48 billion pounds of fuel. In addition, the 787 fleet's noise footprint is 60% smaller than those of the airplanes it replaces.

ANA's new 787 jets will be powered by GE's GEnx-1B engines that contribute to the 787-10’s improved fuel efficiency per seat.