By Menna Abbas
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, a unit of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has struck a deal with Aerolease, a US leasing firm to supply 20 regional jets. Mitsubishi said that the deal is worth about $940m. It will be converted into a definitive contract within the next month or so, lifting the total number of orders for the Mitsubishi Regional Jets to 427, including 233 firm orders and 170 options.
The company said that it had seen increased interest from potential customers after its first flight test concluded. Hiromichi Morimoto, President of Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, told reporters, after announcing Aerolease’s order at the Singapore Airshow, “After the first flight, we feel the interest from potential customers is increasing,” he added, “Asia Pacific region is promising for us, for regional jets. We are right now working really hard on sales promotion in the Asia Pacific region.”
The firm has wrestled with several delays in its effort to enter the regional jet market, which is currently dominated by Canada’s Bombardier Inc and Brazil’s Embraer S.A.
However, “We have much more confidence than before,” said Yugo Fukuhara, Vice President and General Manager of Sales and Marketing. “Still, we still have a very big challenge, but I think we can overcome the challenge.”
