Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. is considering sharply scaling back the development staff and budget at its aircraft subsidiary, effectively discontinuing the operation due to a slump in demand amid the new coronavirus pandemic, sources close to the matter said.

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. has been developing a small aircraft called Mitsubishi SpaceJet, previously known as the Mitsubishi Regional Jet. Its initial delivery to All Nippon Airways Co., originally planned for 2013, has been postponed six times to 2021, or possibly later, due to problems with parts.

==Kyodo

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