Mitsubishi has confirmed it is “working to eliminate its debts” associated with the development of its Mitsubishi Regional Jet aircraft, but dismissed reports that it has decided to invest additional money.

Reports emerged in Japan over the weekend that Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation was looking to increase its capital by US$1.8 billion to both tackle excess debt and go towards achieving the planned mid-2020 first delivery of the MRJ90 to launch customer All Nippon Airways. The funds were said to be likely to come from its parent company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

A statement on behalf of Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on Sunday, however, referred to the news reports on the reported decision to make additional investments in the MRJ and said it had made “no such announcement.”

It continued: “At present, both companies are working to eliminate its debts in excess of assets by the end of this fiscal year, however, no decisions had been made.”

The MRJ carried out its first public flying display in July this year at the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK.