Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism announced today (April 25) that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries canceled the registration of its last four SpaceJet aircraft (formerly called Mitsubishi Regional Jet or MRJ). This model was to become the first Japanese-produced passenger jet airliner.
The firm withdrew from the aircraft business for good on March 6. Thus, all units have already been deregistered from the Japanese aeronautical registers. Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of the company, filed the application for deregistration stating that the aircraft “will not be used”. A total of five aircraft of the type had been listed, one of which was deleted in March 2022.
Reviewing the history of the MRJ, the program was announced in 2008 and saw more than 1 trillion yen ($7.5 billion) in development investment over the years. In 2021 Mitsubishi decided to halt the project to save 120 billion yen ($906 million) in costs, as the program was affecting its cash flow.
The SpaceJet family was to consist of two variants of the model: the first, smaller (MRJ70) and seating between 70 and 80 passengers, and a larger one (MRJ90), with between 86 and 96 seats in a two-class configuration.
The main growing pain of the project was that both U.S. airlines and pilots’ unions did not soften the scope clause. This could have allowed the MRJ70 and/or MRJ90 to be used as regional aircraft. The scope clause limits the maximum size (in number of seats) of aircraft that can be used as regional aircraft in the United States.
Mitsubishi Aircraft also changed its name to “MSJ Asset Management” after deregistering the remaining units. The company will, after hearing from its investors, carry on with the liquidation procedure.
