ANA cancels SpaceJet order following program cancellation

All Nippon Airways (ANA), a Japanese carrier, had displayed interest in Mitsubishi’s Regional Jet (MRJ) project, which was renamed the SpaceJet, and had placed a firm order for 15 SpaceJet M90 airplanes in 2008. However, Mitsubishi declared on February 7th that it would discontinue the development of the SpaceJet project, almost 15 years after ANA’s initial order.

The history of the SpaceJet M90

In 2007, Mitsubishi unveiled a program with the goal of producing a twin-engine airliner suitable for regional markets. The program aimed to offer a competitor to the Embraer E170 and E175 aircraft models, and quickly garnered attention from regional airlines like Mesa Airlines and SkyWest Airlines in the US, as well as Japan’s ANA and Japan Airlines. In addition to airlines, leasing companies such as Rockton in Sweden and Aerolease in Florida also placed orders for the M90. Overall, Mitsubishi received 247 purchase orders for the SpaceJet M90.

What went Wrong?

Initially planned for operational service in 2013, the SpaceJet M90 experienced delays in its development that resulted in its maiden flight taking place only in November 2015. However, the revised entry into service date of 2018 was not met. Subsequently, in 2017, the program encountered further delays, pushing the entry into service date to 2020. However, the prolonged development period caused the program to become too expensive for Mitsubishi, and the orders were insufficient to make the program profitable. The pandemic in 2020 and technical issues with aircraft wiring and systems compounded the situation.

In early 2021, Aerolease canceled their firm order for ten aircraft, which was placed in 2016, along with options for an additional ten aircraft. As of 2023, after Mitsubishi’s announcement of the program’s pause on February 7th, both Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA) canceled their firm orders. Specifically, Japan Airlines canceled their order of 32 aircraft on February 28th, and ANA followed suit less than two months later, canceling their order of 15 firms and ten optional aircraft.

AirInsightGroup reported that Mitsubishi faced various challenges in the production of the SpaceJet, aside from the pandemic and technical issues. One of the biggest obstacles was their inability to form partnerships and obtain support from global developers for the production and services required for the aircraft.

However, the Scope Clause in the US posed the most significant issue for Mitsubishi. This clause prevented regional airlines from operating aircraft weighing more than 86,000 lb (39,010 kg) regional pilots. Despite introducing a smaller 76-seater SpaceJet M100 at the 2019 Paris Airshow to address this limitation, Mitsubishi was unable to generate sufficient orders to make the program viable.

Next for ANA

The cancellation of the regional jets order prompts a query on how it has impacted ANA and whether they will explore other options going forward. When contacted for comment, a representative from the airline assured Simple Flying that the SpaceJet from Mitsubishi remains unaffected by the cancellation and they continue to evaluate aircraft choices based on current market trends.

Possible alternatives

When it comes to regional aircraft, two of the most sought-after names in the market today are the Embraer E195-E2 jets and the Airbus A220 series. These airplanes are both new and feature cutting-edge technology, making them ideal candidates for the future of regional air travel. A growing number of regional airlines around the world have put their trust in both the Embraer E195-E2 and the Airbus A220, operating these aircraft on a regular basis.

In Europe, the Airbus A220 has gained popularity with airlines such as airBaltic and Air France, while in North America, Delta Air Lines and Air Canada are among its biggest operators. Qantas has also shown its confidence in the Airbus A220 by ordering 20 of these planes in 2021. Meanwhile, the Embraer E195-E2 has won over a significant number of regional operators, including KLM Cityhopper in Europe, Azul in Brazil, and Porter Airlines in Canada.

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