787 goes boom?

Not exactly, but still potentially worrisome times ahead for ANA, JAL, Boeing, and anyone else who’s bought a 787, if these so-called teething issues don’t get resolved soon. One wonders if ANA and JAL are regretting their early-adopter approach to the 787, given that jet fuel gushing on the runway is not the most encouraging site from a passenger perspective.

日航・全日空「想定内」も 株価は下落 Ｂ７８７トラ ブルで

2013.1.9 21:24

米ボーイング社の最新鋭旅客機ボーイン グ７８７でトラブルが相次いだが、日本航 空と、同機を世界で初めて導入した全日本 空輸はともに、今後の「購入計画に変更 はない」（日航広報部）として、今後の主 力機として活用する戦略を変えない方針 だ。一方で、安全性への懸念から旅行客の 搭乗敬遠を心配する声も出始めている。

航空業界に詳しい東京工業大学大学院の 花岡伸也准教授は「新型機に、一定の初期 トラブルが発生するのはしかたない。今回 もそのレベルで、全日空も日航とも想定内 だ」と指摘。その上で「７８７自体の信頼 性を揺るがすものではない」と分析する。 出火トラブルが発生した機材を除き、両 社は、今後も７８７の運航計画について変 更する考えはない。

７８７の安全性は、両社の今後の経営戦 略にとって極めて重要だ。日航は、７８ ７を将来的に４５機導入し、国際線中型機 の主力にする。６６機購入を計画する全日 空は、国内線、国際線ともに中型機のほと んどを７８７で運用する考えで、「世界 のエアラインと互角に戦う」（伊東信一郎 社長）ために不可欠だ。

ただ、「消費者目線からすれば、トラブ ルで７８７の搭乗を敬遠するケースもあり 得る」（全日空幹部）。８日のニューヨー ク株式市場で米ボーイング株が下落したの に続き、９日の東京株式市場では日航、全 日空とも株価が下落し、トラブルの影響が 重くのしかかっている。

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/economy/news/130109/biz13010921250030-n1.htm

JAL and ANA “within expectations,” stock prices fall on Boeing 787 trouble

The US-based Boeing Corporation’s cutting edge airliner, the Boeing 787, continues to have issues. Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), who was the first to introduce the new aircraft, both said “Our purchase plans have not changed,” indicating no change in their strategy of making it their main aircraft of choice. On the other hand, voices have begun to wonder whether passengers will refrain from riding in the planes over fears related to safety.

Shinya Hanaoka, associate professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology, who is knowledgeable on the airline industry, said, “It is to be expected that new aircraft will have some initial issues. This time is no different and JAL and ANA certainly are not surprised.” Also, “This does not undermine the reliability of the 787 aircraft.” Unless there are problems with catching fire, both companies are not planning to revise their plans around operating the 787 going forward.

The safety of the 787 is critically important to the future operating strategies of both companies. JAL is planning to introduce 45 of the 787s going forward and to use them on all of its international routes for mid-sized craft. ANA is planning to purchase 66 of the craft, and use them on almost all domestic and international routes for mid-sized craft. (President Ito) explained that it was critical for the company “to compete with the airlines of the world.”

That said, “From the consumer’s point of view, it’s easy to imagine cases of not riding in a 787 because of the issues,” (ANA’s management noted). On the 8 th on the NYSE, Boeing’s stock continued its decline, and JAL’s was down on the 9 th on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. ANA’s followed suit, being driven downward under the influence of the aircraft’s issues.