NAGASAKI, Japan -- Aircraft suppliers are boosting the production of engines and other components for short-haul planes in response to rebounds in some domestic air travel markets, a sign of newfound confidence in post-COVID aviation.
The boom can be seen in Nagasaki, a far-flung corner of Japan, where a new Mitsubishi Heavy Industries factory in March went into full production, churning out engine "combustors" for Airbus's popular A320neo narrow-body jets. Mitsubishi Heavy is planning to spend 10 billion yen ($77 million) to expand the plant's capacity by 50% to 120 combustors a month -- enough for 60 twin-engine planes -- by 2025-2026.
