Japan Airlines (JAL) has firmed up an order with Mitsubishi Aircraft for 32 MRJ regional jets, having signed a letter of intent in August 2014.

The carrier will deploy the MRJs from 2021, to be operated by its wholly-owned regional subsidiary J-AIR, says JAL and Mitsubishi Aircraft in a joint statement.

“As a network carrier that also operates regional jets, we are contributing to the birth of Japan’s first passenger jet,” says JAL president Yoshiharu Ueki.

Japan Airlines

The Japanese airframer’s order book for the MRJ now stands at 407, which includes 223 firm orders, 160 on options and 24 purchase rights.

“The MRJ, the next-generation regional jet, drastically reduces fuel consumption, noise, and emissions, while offering top-class operational benefits for airlines. Mitsubishi Aircraft remains firmly committed to the success of the MRJ program, as well as to the growth of Japan's aviation industry,” adds Teruaki Kawai, president of Mitsubishi Aircraft.

Flightglobal’s Ascend Fleets database shows that J-AIR operates nine Bombardier CRJ200s and 15 Embraer E170s. It also has orders for five E170s and 10 E190s.

Source: Cirium Dashboard