Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation has confirmed the first cancellation of an order for its MRJ aircraft, with the former Eastern Air Lines (EAL) Group in the United States pulling out.
The original order was for 20 MRJs plus an option for another 20. The cancellation leaves the Japanese airframe manufacturer with a total order book of 387 aircraft (213 firm, 170 options and four purchase rights), from six customers.
Mitsubishi said the cancellation was made after “extensive discussion between Mitsubishi Aircraft and Eastern.” It stated: “We determined that cancellation was the best option for both parties. This is a matter having to do with the changes in EAL’s business configuration. After the business sell-off to Swift Air, EAL returned their license (AOC) to the US FAA and has withdrawn from the aviation business.”
A spokesman added that it remains “in constant contact with our customers and throughout these discussions our customers remain fully supportive of the MRJ program and they look forward to its entry into market. This cancellation is not a matter having to do with the MRJ programme or its development. It is a result of the changes in EAL’s business configuration and we believe that it will have no effect on current orders from other customers.”
Eastern was purchased by private charter operator Swift Air of the US last year. The original MRJ deal with Eastern had been signed in 2014, with deliveries set for 2019. The delays in the MRJ’s development schedule have now pushed first deliveries back to mid-2020.
The remaining MRJ customers are the launch operator All Nippon Airways, as well as Trans States Holdings, SkyWest Inc., Air Mandalay, Japan Airlines and Aerolease Aviation. Swedish lessor Rockton also signed a letter of intent for 10 MRJ90s in 2016 but that still remains to be firmed up, and some doubts still remain over the viability of the order from Air Mandalay.
The Japanese manufacturer, in the meantime, continues with its extensive ongoing flight test programme on its MRJ aircraft, having last summer also put it on public show for the first time at the Paris Air Show.
