Eastern Air Lines Group orders up to 40 Mitsubishi MRJ90s

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement with Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. for the purchase of twenty firm MRJ90 aircraft with purchase rights to an additional twenty MRJ90 aircraft. Mitsubishi Aircraft and Eastern signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) in England at the Farnborough International Airshow in July, 2014. Both companies have moved forward to conclude a definitive agreement on September 22, 2014. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in 2019.

Edward J. Wegel, Eastern Air Lines Group President and CEO said, “We are honored to partner with Mitsubishi Aircraft on this next generation regional aircraft which will deliver best in class operating economics, customer comfort and baggage capabilities. This aircraft will proudly join Eastern’s fleet starting in 2019 and will be christened the Eastern Whisperjet.”

Thus far, 335 MRJ (171 firm, 160 option, 4 purchase rights) are on order, including 25 (15 firm, 10 option) from All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., 100 (50 firm, 50 option) from Trans States Holdings, Inc., 200 (100 firm, 100 option) from SkyWest, Inc., 10 (6 firm, 4 purchase rights) from Air Mandalay Limited. This order brings the current number of orders for the MRJ to 375 aircraft (191 firm, 160 option, 24 purchase rights). In addition, Mitsubishi Aircraft signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (JAL) to order 32 MRJ aircraft.

Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc., was formed to re-launch Eastern Air Lines as a passenger airline using Boeing 737-800 aircraft from its main base of operations at Miami International Airport (MIA). Eastern Air Lines has its headquarters in Miami, Florida.

Mitsubishi Regional Jet is a family of 70~90-seat next-generation aircraft featuring the Pratt & Whitney’s revolutionary PurePower® engine and state-of-the-art aerodynamics to drastically reduce fuel consumption, noise, and emissions, while offering top-class operational benefits, an outstanding cabin designed for heightened passenger flying comfort, and large overhead bins.