Japan Airlines may buy 20 Airbus A350s

It would be Management Malpractice not to make an announcement such this with two Boeing issues on the table. They will be looking for compensation for the 787 grounding and they will be looking for fleet replacement. They have lots of 767's to shed although some are less than ten years old and they have lots of orders on the 787. By the time they get the bugs worked out they will have lots of them if they exercise their options and I doubt they will want to go through the same process with Airbus.

This is part of the horse trading and both side know it, but Boeing is not likely to take a chance to have their monopoly broken. They will cut a good deal for JapAir.

Airbus are considering changing the battery system to avoid Boeings problem. Currently, the A350 has a lithium set up similar to the 787. I guess they will hedge their bets and go conventional. However, if Boeing manage to overcome their difficulties with a permanent fix, I'll bet Airbus will change their minds again. More horse trading.