Japan is likely to go ahead with plans to build its first passenger jet after All Nippon Airways said yesterday that it had placed a conditional order with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for up to 25 aircraft.

The order is the first for the MRJ, a 70-90 seat regional jet to be built by Mitsubishi with government funding. ANA, Japan's second-biggest carrier, said the aircraft would be delivered starting in 2013 at the earliest.