Mitsubishi Aircraft announced that it would be planning for an initial production rate of five MRJ aircraft monthly immediately after the type’s first delivery occurs in 2015. The company noted that it would need to build ten MRJs per month in order to meet its contractual obligations.
Mitsubishi’s assembly base for the MRJ70 and MRJ90 aircraft will be at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Komaki South plant located at the the Nagoya Komaki airport. Mitsubishi is also investigating opening a second assembly line if demand warrants the expansion.
First flight of the MRJ is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2013. SkyWest Airlines recently firmed up an agreement for 100 MRJ90s, and added an option for an additional 100 MRJs. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2017 with the optioned MRJs being delivered from 2021 onwards.
Mitsubishi currently holds 170 firm orders with 160 options on the MRJ program as a whole.
