Mitsubishi wins first European order for MRJ www3.nhk.or.jp
Japan's Mitsubishi Aircraft is on its way to clinching the first European order for its MRJ passenger jets. The Mitsubishi Regional Jet is under development as the first Japanese-made passenger aircraft in half a century.
Sources close to the deal say management at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' subsidiary has reached an agreement in principle to sell up to 20 units to Swedish aircraft-leasing firm ROCKTON.
The company's executives plan to announce the deal at a major international airshow starting on Monday in Farnborough near London.
Mitsubishi has already received orders for 427 units of the MRJ from Japanese, as well as US and Asian carriers.
But Europe is a key market for small jets. Demand there is high for many short-distance flights connecting various cities and countries.
Observers are watching to see if the latest order will give momentum to Mitsubishi in grabbing world market share from leading makers of small passenger jets. These include Brazil's Embraer and Canada's Bombardier.
Published Date:2016-07-11