Japan Airlines to purchase Boeing's 7E7 jets

TOKYO (AP) -- Japan Airlines announced Wednesday it's picked Boeing's new 7E7 passenger jet to replace a fleet of older aircraft.<br/><br/>Boeing plans to hire about 500 workers at its Tulsa plant

Wednesday, December 22nd 2004, 10:10 am

By: News On 6

TOKYO (AP) -- Japan Airlines announced Wednesday it's picked Boeing's new 7E7 passenger jet to replace a fleet of older aircraft.

Boeing plans to hire about 500 workers at its Tulsa plant to make parts of the wing for the jet.

Wednesday's announcement is the latest development in the rivalry between Boeing and Europe's Airbus in courting Asian carriers.

JAL says it'll buy 30 of the 7-E-7 Dreamliners.

The price of the deal was not disclosed, but the catalog price for 30 7E7 jets is estimated at $4-billion. If all options are exercised, the total price would be about $6-billion -- but airlines typically negotiate big discounts on major orders.