Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. is touting its still-in-development Mitsubishi Regional Jet, set to be the first Japanese-built small passenger jet, at a U.S. trade show that opened Tuesday in St. Louis.
Speaking to reporters at the Regional Airline Association's Annual Convention, Hirofumi Takahashi, president of Mitsubishi Aircraft's U.S. unit, said, "We are focusing on North America since it's the biggest market (for small jets). We also sense strong interest in MRJ from the customers we've been talking to."
The United States is a major market for small jets that link regional cities. Mitsubishi Aircraft is planning to build up orders in the roughly one-year run-up to the jet's first test flight.