Japan’s Nakanihon Air has taken delivery of its first Piaggio P180 Avanti EVO. The aircraft touched down on the runway of Nagoya airport on 16 January 2026 after its delivery flight from Piaggio Aerospace’s headquarters in Genoa, Italy, overflying the skies of Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, India and Vietnam. At the same time the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) has formally recognised the P180’s type certificate for the Japanese market.

“We are particularly excited that the P180 Avanti will be operated in Japan,” says Giovanni Tomassini, CEO of Piaggio Aerospace. “The Avanti is already in service with numerous operators flying it in various roles, highlighting the aircraft’s versatility across special missions.”

With this delivery, Nakanihon Air becomes the first P180 Avanti operator in Japan, reflecting the company’s commitment to fleet modernisation and service expansion. Nakanihon Air operates a fleet of 57 helicopters and seven fixed-wing aircraft, including a Pilatus PC-24 that was delivered late last year, for tasks such as charter flights, cargo transportation, emergency medical services and aerial surveys.

Speaking about the delivery, Tomassini continues: “In just three months, the Avanti EVO has entered two new markets, first with the sale of two aircraft to a customer in Turkey and now with the delivery of an aircraft to Japan. Both milestones confirm the ongoing strong international demand for the aircraft as we plan to raise production to 25 to 30 units per year.”