This article is based on an official press release from Boeing.

Boeing Delivers 100th 787 Landing Gear Exchange to All Nippon Airways

On February 4, 2026, Boeing marked a significant operational milestone in its Global Services division by completing the 100th delivery of a 787 Landing Gear Exchange (LGE) shipset. According to an official press release issued during the Singapore Airshow, the recipient of this milestone unit was All Nippon Airways (ANA), the global launch customer and largest operator of the 787 Dreamliner.

The delivery highlights the growing reliance of major carriers on exchange programs to maintain fleet efficiency. Boeing stated that the LGE program has now contracted exchanges for over 480 aircraft across 34 airlines worldwide. For ANA specifically, this delivery represents the 30th time the airline has utilized the exchange program to service its extensive Dreamliner fleet.

Operational Efficiency and Program Details

The Landing Gear Exchange program is designed to offer airlines an alternative to the traditional, capital-intensive overhaul process. In its announcement, Boeing explained that the program allows carriers to swap unserviceable landing gear for fully overhauled and certified sets from Boeing’s inventory pool.

Speed vs. Traditional Overhaul

Standard landing gear overhauls can be logistically complex and time-consuming. According to industry data referenced in the report, a traditional overhaul cycle often requires 30 to 50 days, during which the aircraft might be grounded unless the airline owns expensive spare gear sets. In contrast, the LGE program aims to drastically reduce this downtime. Boeing notes that replacement gear is often ready to ship within 24 hours, allowing the physical swap on the aircraft to be completed in just a few days.

Executive Commentary

Both Boeing and ANA executives emphasized the role of this program in maintaining operational stability. Yukifumi Ueda, Vice President and General Manager of Engine, Component & Supply Chain at ANA, highlighted the safety and efficiency benefits in the company statement:

“The Landing Gear Exchange program has been instrumental in optimizing our maintenance operations and ensuring the highest levels of safety… This latest delivery demonstrates our strong partnership with Boeing.”

William Ampofo, Senior Vice President of Parts & Distribution and Supply Chain for Boeing Global Services, noted the company’s focus on availability:

“This milestone reinforces our dedication to providing airlines with critical parts when and where needed to maximize fleet availability… We are also investing in and expanding our exchange pool capacity to meet the growing needs of our customers.”

Strategic Implications for Fleet Management

The milestone delivery in Singapore underscores a shift in how airlines manage heavy maintenance assets. By utilizing an exchange pool, carriers like ANA can avoid the significant capital expenditure required to purchase and store their own spare landing gear sets, which can cost millions of dollars per shipset.

AirPro News Analysis

Supply Chain Resilience: In our view, the success of the LGE program, evidenced by reaching 100 deliveries, signals a broader industry trend toward “parts-as-a-service” models. For an airline with a fleet as large as ANA’s (approximately 86 Dreamliners), the logistical burden of managing individual overhaul schedules for landing gear is immense. Transferring the inventory risk and technical records management to the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) allows the airline to focus on flight operations rather than heavy maintenance logistics.

Furthermore, the timing of this announcement at the Singapore Airshow 2026 is strategic. It demonstrates to the Asian market, a critical hub for widebody operations, that Boeing’s aftermarket supply chain is maturing effectively, a crucial reassurance given global supply chain disruptions in recent years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Landing Gear Exchange (LGE) program?
It is a service where airlines exchange their unserviceable landing gear for a fully overhauled, ready-to-install set from Boeing’s inventory, rather than waiting for their specific gear to be repaired.

Why is the 100th delivery significant?
It validates the program’s maturity and market acceptance. Reaching 100 exchanges proves that major carriers prefer the speed and cost certainty of the exchange model over traditional ownership and overhaul methods.

How many airlines use this program?
According to Boeing’s data, 34 airlines globally have contracted the LGE service for over 480 aircraft.

Sources

• Boeing Media Room