Japan Airlines to purchase Boeing jets

Japan Airlines today said it had selected Boeing’s new 7E7 passenger jet to replace a fleet of older aircraft – the latest development in the rivalry between the US aircraft maker and Europe’s Airbus to woo Asian carriers.

Japan Airlines said it will purchase 30 of Chicago-based Boeing’s planned aircraft, called the 7E7 Dreamliner, with an option to order 20 more of both the long-range 7E7-8 and the short-to-medium-range 7E7-3.