All Nippon Airways (ANA) has raised its firm orders for Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner to 55 aircraft from 50. The company also said it plans to issue 575 million new shares worth an estimated ¥182.62 billion (US$1.9 billion) that will be used largely to finance new aircraft.

The move makes ANA the world’s largest airline customer for the 787. Qantas reduced its firm order to 50 from 65 last week, lifting the number of cancellations by all airlines this year to 72. ANA also has six 777-300s, eight 737-800s, 15 737-700s and three Dash 8-400s on order. Its order book is worth ¥1.06 trillion, it said.

The company also said it is targeting an additional ¥30 billion in cost savings this fiscal year ending 31 March 2010, through “the earlier and more refined implementation of measures contained in the current emergency plan, along with new additional measures.”