JAL Spreads Wealth Between Mitsubishi, Embraer
Firm order for Embraer worth some $677 million.
Japan Airlines president Yoshiharu Ueki (Photo: JAL)
Japan Airlines president Yoshiharu Ueki (Photo: JAL)

Two manufacturers shared the spoils of Japan Airlines' major commitment announced last week covering a total of 47 regional jets. But the potentially bigger and undoubtedly more desperate winner proved to be Mitsubishi, the upstart regional jet manufacturer whose orderbook now shows memoranda of understanding, tentative agreements and firm orders from six customers. The much needed boost for the MRJ program came in the form of a so-called basic agreement covering 32 of the jets. Simultaneously, the airline announced a $677 million firm order for 15 E170s and E190s, further padding an Embraer orderbook that reflects the fattest backlog by far of all the world’s RJ manufacturers. The Japan Airlines deal with Embraer includes options for another 12 airplanes. The companies did not disclose the planned E170/E190 fleet mix.