AirAsia is considering buying Mitsubishi Heavy Industries jets, CEO Tony Fernandes tells Nikkei. The Malaysian low-cost carrier is able to support the Mitsubishi Regional Jet, the primary Japanese airliner project because the Sixties. At the identical time, AirAsia is searching for support from Japanese regulators to acquire more slots at Japanese airports.
Mitsubishi Aircraft, the aviation unit of the Japanese engineering group, has delayed MRJ deliveries five times from its original 2013 goal. The current goal is mid-2020.
Last week, Mitsubishi Heavy announced it will inject $1.9 billion into its jet program in a bid to settle the unit’s excessive liabilities. ANA Holdings, Japan Airlines and other airlines have already placed orders for MRJ.
AirAsia’s Japanese subsidiary is headquartered in Aichi Prefecture, where MRJ is under development. Fernandes said his company will determine what number of jets it buys based on price. The carrier is “waiting for Mitsubishi to submit a suggestion.”
Fernandes’ group is currently awaiting deliveries of 100 wide-body Airbus A330neo aircraft, scheduled to start at the tip of 2019. The company plans to buy smaller aircraft to serve island airports across the region. The MRJ, which may accommodate 70 or 90 passengers, is believed to be suitable for this purpose.
Source: NIKKEI Asian Review
