Mitsubishi again delays MRJ program by over a year

摘要

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. (MITAC) announced a second major delay to its Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) program, postponing its first flight and entry into service by over a year. Under a revised schedule unveiled in April 2012, the 70- to 90-seat regional jet was due to fly for the first time in the fourth quarter of 2013. At the time Mitsubishi said it was confident it would meet the new timeline, but on Aug. 22 the first flight was pushed back to the second quarter of 2015, representing up to another 18 months' delay. The first delivery-originally planned for between summer 2015 and the first quarter of 2016-is now expected in the second quarter of 2017. All Nippon Airways (ANA), which has 15 MRJs on firm order plus 10 options, is the type's launch customer.