Story ID: 
Mitsubishi Considers Longer MRJ 
By: AIN Staff
Caption: Mitsubishi Aircraft is considering a stretched variant of its regional jet and is analyzing market demand.
Word Count: 134
Mitsubishi Aircraft is considering a stretched variant of its regional jet and is analyzing market demand. Senior executive v-p Junichi Miyakawa believes the basic MRJ model has potential to accommodate as many as 112 passengers. “We are looking to our customers to see the market requirement,” he said.

But Mitsubishi is continuing to focus on the initial 70/80-seat MRJ70 and 86/96-passenger MRJ90 variants, according to Miyakawa, who said the company is in no hurry to produce a third model. Beyond that possible development, he says a smaller model is unlikely because the common wing, tailfin/tailplane and systems enjoyed by the current variants would not be suitable for an airplane of, say, 50 to 60 seats. The first MRJ should fly in 2011, with customer deliveries following two years later.