Rumors of the death of inflight magazines are, perhaps, greatly exaggerated. That’s just one of the topics we dive in to on this episode of the Weekly Wrap, covering the top PaxEx news you need to know.
MRJ
The CRJ is dead; long live the CRJ, err MRJ, err SpaceJet. Or something like that.
Today was supposed to be a celebration for Mitsubishi Heavy Industry (MHI), the dawning of a new era for its SpaceJet regional jet program. Instead the company is drastically cutting operations and development efforts as the market contracts. But it still must move forward in some ways.
Mitsubishi scores a SpaceJet 100 order in the US regional market
Mitsubishi Aircraft (probably) has a US-based customer for its SpaceJet M100 regional jet.
Mitsubishi’s SpaceJet buys Bombardier’s support
We are mere months away from the production of the final CRJ passenger jet. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) announced this morning a deal to acquire Bombardier’s regional jet program, bringing it to a close as the SpaceJet will take its place.
Forget the names: Mitsubishi wants its new interior to win over customers
The new name – it is now officially the SpaceJet M90 – does not really matter for the future of the MRJ. But a new interior and revised scope-compliant model might just be enough to win over customers for the manufacturer.
Mitsubishi looks to Canada for its MRJ program
If you can’t join them, buy them. Mitsubishi appears poised to do just that as Bombardier seeks to offload its CRJ regional jet product line. At least it would solve the scope clause issues.
Can Space Jet save the MRJ??
Can a rebranding and redesign of the Mitsubishi Regional Jet to “Space Jet” restore the type’s fortunes? The market could use a competitor to shake up Embraer’s monopoly, but uncertainty and further delays are not going to help the MRJ break into the market.
Bombardier to restructure aviation, sell off Belfast composite wing facility
First Bombardier sold off the CSeries (now A220) to Airbus. Then the Q400 turboprop business was sold to Viking Air. Today the company announced further restructuring, with plans to consolidate remaining operations in the Americas while divesting its composite aerostructures businesses in Belfast and Morocco.