Compiled From Yomiuri Shimbun reporting on July 19, 2013
The government of Japan is planning to retire two Boeing 747-400 government’s own aircraft in fiscal 2018 and replace them by two new aircraft in the following year.
The newspaper has learned from pleural government sources in July 18 that it would request a part of budget to acquire in advance for fiscal 2014, assuming a choice of Boeing 777 having a similar transportation capacity with 747 but superior in fuel efficiency.
Current pair of Govt aircraft was introduced in 1991 and are being operated by Japan Air Self Defense Force while its maintenance, repair and overhaul as well as crew training are entrusted to Japan Airlines. The aircraft has been used in state visits by the Imperial family as well as Prime Ministers; they are also deployed to emergency flights such as transportation of rescued expatriates and bodies of the victims in Algerian assault incident in last January.
Internal study of the next aircraft within the government was prompted by JAL’s retirement of all its 747 fleet by 2010 as JAL looked 747s were inferior in fuel consumption rate.
The decision making has been postponed as new aircraft acquisition may provoke negative reactions from taxpayers as the government is readying to raise tax rate and ask them to burden higher. However, as JAL’s support would end in fiscal 2018 and procurement of new aircraft calls for a certain lead time, the government finally decided to place order within the next fiscal year.
Estimated cost of the acquisition is JPY 100 billion (USD 1 billion) for two examples including special conversion works.
Notes
1. All of ANA’s 747 fleet will be retired by March 2014, leaving NCA cargo airline the only operator of 747 in Japan.
2. Once 787 was rumored to be a candidate, so were MRJ Mitsubishi Regional Jets. However, as for the latter, its range is too short and it would rather be a sign of commitment by the government to support the indigenous airliner development.
3. Japanese aerospace industry has been participating in 777 from development stage to current production accounting for 21% of the works of 777.
