Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation

Lifting off with the Dutch

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation’s decision to choose the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area as its center of operations was the result of careful deliberation.

“An important consideration for us was that the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area boasts one of the most modern airports in the world. Many of our potential customers pass through Amsterdam Airport Schiphol every week. Other advantages are the direct access Schiphol gives us to just about every destination we fly to on a regular basis and the fact there is no time difference with Africa and the Middle East,” said Akinori Kojima, President of Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. “This is not a short-term investment.”

There is a growing demand for planes that can carry passenger loads of a hundred or less from major hubs to local final destinations, and vice versa. That enormous market potential was just the incentive Mitsubishi needed to decide to revive its aviation division. “Currently, our biggest customers are in Japan, the USA and Hong Kong, but that will change as soon as we get a foot in the door of the European growth market. At least a third of expected sales in this segment will be made here,” said Kojima.

“The aircraft manufacturer’s arrival in Amsterdam will in turn provide a significant impetus to the Dutch aviation cluster,” also commented Christa de Kemp of Amsterdam in business.

September 2011