TOKYO, March 21 (Reuters) - Japan Airlines ( JPNRF )

plans to buy 42 jets from April 2025 to March 2034 with a

catalogue price of about $12.39 billion as it seeks higher fuel

efficiency and plans to expand international services, the

airline said on Thursday.

A robust recovery in passenger demand also helped JAL

lift its group net profit forecast to 90 billion yen ($596

million)for the current year ending in March, up from 80 billion

yen. The latest estimate topped the average 85.4 billion yen

profit forecast by 10 analysts by IBES.

Japan's second-largest airline plans to buy 21 Airbus

wide-body A350-900 and 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliner

jets, the company said in a statement.

It also plans to buy 11 A321neo narrow-body jets between

fiscal years 2025 to 2033.

Higher-efficiency jets are in high demand as international

travel nears a full recovery from the pandemic and has spilled

over into competition for engine and maintenance contracts.

JAL said it aims to maintain and improve its

competitiveness by introducing state-of-the-art aircraft.

($1 = 150.9600 yen)