Tokyo: Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp, the maker of Japan’s first passenger jet, has won an order for as many as 20 planes from Swedish leasing company Rockton, according to a person familiar with the deal.
The deal will be announced at 2pm local time Monday at the Farnborough Air Show, said the person, asking not to be identified because the information isn’t public yet.
The order is the second for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet this year, following a deal from US lessor Aerolease Aviation LLC for as many as 20 aircraft. Japan is trying to break the regional-jet duopoly of Brazil’s Embraer SA and Canada’s Bombardier Inc as Asia is set for the biggest growth among global aviation markets over the next two decades.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, the parent of Mitsubishi Aircraft, declined to comment. Japanese broadcaster NHK reported the order earlier Monday.
Mitsubishi is making two versions of the MRJ, which can seat 78 to 92 passengers. The 92-seat MRJ90 has a list price of $47.3 million (Dh173.73 million), according to the company. Discounts for plane purchases are customary in the industry.
The jet had its first flight in November, with the first plane scheduled for delivery to ANA Holdings Inc. in the middle of 2018. The company has 427 orders for the jet, including options and purchase rights.
