Nakanihon Air of Japan has taken delivery of its first P.180 Avanti EVO. The aircraft touched down on the runway of Nagoya Airport on January 16th, 2026 after its delivery flight from Genoa, overflying the skies of Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, India and Vietnam. At the same time, the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) formally recognized the P.180 Type Certificate for the Japanese market. "We are particularly excited that the P.180 Avanti will be operated in Japan”, said 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”, he added. With this delivery, Nakanihon Air becomes the first P.180 Avanti operator in Japan, reflecting the airline’s commitment to fleet modernization and service expansion. Nakanihon Air operates a fleet of 57 helicopters and 7 fixed-wing aircraft for tasks such as charter flights, transportation, emergency medical services and aerial surveys. Speaking on the delivery, Piaggio Aerospace CEO Giovanni Tomassini said: "In just three months, the Avanti EVO has entered two new markets – first with the sale of two aircraft to a customer in Türkiye, 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 25–30 units per year." As the third generation of the P.180 Avanti platform, the Avanti EVO delivers higher performance, increased efficiency and superior comfort. Designed for both business and special missions, the EVO can carry up to 7 passengers at a maximum cruise speed of 382 Kts, (707 km/h) with a shuttle range of 1,590 nm (2,944 km), and can fly up to a service ceiling of 41,000 feet (12,500 m). The Avanti EVO’s fuel consumption is 40% lower than that of jet planes of the same class, making it ideal for executive transport, air ambulance operations and other specialized roles. Nakanihon Air spearheaded the development of the air ambulance concept in Japan over 30 years ago, and is now one of the largest operators of ambulance aircraft in Japan. The Avanti EVO’s performance and efficiency will support the company in expanding services to remote and far-reaching areas of Japan.
