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Despite assurances from Boeing, it is unclear if travelers will have enough confidence in the 787 to book flights on them. Aviation analyst Kotaro Toriumi said carriers will likely face some challenges wooing people back to the 787 especially because the cause of battery overheating has not been identified. But many won't hesitate to do so once the FAA gives the go-ahead, he said. "What the FAA decides will be critical," he said. "Boeing can't afford to have the jets staying idle forever." Both ANA and JAL have announced cancellations of hundreds of 787 flights through the end of May. Still, once the FAA clears the jet, approval from Japanese aviation regulators is likely to be instant. Transport Ministry official Yasuo Ishii said Japanese officials were part of the tests and certification in the U.S., and planned to go along with and be part of the FAA decision. He said it was even possible commercial flights could resume as early as next month. JAL spokesman Jian Yang said in a statement the airline sees the 787 tests going "to a new stage" and was ready to cooperate with others in the effort. ANA also welcomed Boeing's plan. "As the launch customer for the 787, ANA hopes for a resumption of flights as soon as possible, while putting safety as a top priority," it said. Boeing executives played down fire risks, stressing that there was no fire in the Japan failure and that there was no major damage to the aircraft. They said they would not hesitate to fly on the 787 or have their families fly on them. They declined comment on questions about monetary compensations for the carriers, which are suffering losses because of flight cancellations.
[Associated
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