Boeing 787 Battery Fix Sets Stage for ANA-JAL to Seek Clearance

Boeing Co. won U.S. approval for the 787 Dreamliner’s redesigned battery, setting the stage for ANA Holdings Inc. and Japan Airlines Co., the jet’s two biggest operators, to seek domestic clearance to restart flights.

Modifications to the planes began yesterday, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said it will issue a directive next week to let flights resume once the battery fixes are made. The 787 will still be allowed to travel as far as 180 minutes from the nearest airport, enabling it to be used on over-ocean routes, said Laura Brown, an FAA spokeswoman.