Honda Aircraft Company Marks 20 Years of Manufacturing

Honda Aircraft Company marked two decades of aviation manufacturing on August 7, 2026, celebrating a milestone that encompasses over 275 global aircraft deliveries and the ongoing expansion of its Greensboro, North Carolina, production facility.

In a press release issued to commemorate the anniversary, the wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. detailed its transition from a 2006 startups to an established business jet manufacturer. The company hosted a banner-signing event for its approximately 1,000 associates at its 133-acre Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) campus.

Two decades of light jet production

Since its formal establishment in 2006, Honda Aircraft Company has focused on the very light jet market. The manufacturer achieved Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification and completed its first customer delivery of the original HondaJet HA-420 in 2015. Over the subsequent decade, the company iterated on the design, culminating in the current production model, the HondaJet Elite II.

Hideto Yamasaki, President and CEO of Honda Aircraft Company, addressed the workforce during the August 7 event.

“As we celebrate our legacy of aircraft manufacturing in North Carolina and our incredible pride in serving our HondaJet customers, we look forward with confidence to the next chapter of Honda skyward mobility,” Yamasaki said. “As we continue on our journey it is our Honda associates and the Piedmont Triad community partners who will continue to be the key to our success in shaping the future of flight.”

Recent milestones and the Echelon program

The 20th anniversary follows a series of recent regulatory and production milestones for the airframer. In 2026, the HondaJet Elite II became the first production model twin-turbine very light business jet certified to equip Emergency Autoland (EAL).

The company also expanded its international footprint this month. On August 3, 2026, Honda Aircraft announced the first delivery of a HondaJet Elite II in Brazil, following official type validation by the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC). For operators of earlier models, the manufacturer introduced the HondaJet APMG S performance upgrade package in 2026, bringing innovations from the HondaJet Elite S to legacy airframes.

Production and development are now split between the active Elite II line and the upcoming HondaJet Echelon, an 11-occupant light jet revealed in 2023.

North Carolina State Senator Michael Garrett attended the Greensboro event, noting the local economic impact of the manufacturer’s two-decade presence.

“North Carolina, as we all know, is the birthplace of flight. In Guilford County, that legacy isn’t just history; it’s a living industry building the future of aviation right now. On its 20th anniversary, we honor Honda Aircraft Company for its innovation, its investment, and its people,” Garrett said.

AirPro News analysis

We view Honda Aircraft Company’s 20-year trajectory as a case study in methodical aerospace development. Rather than rapidly expanding its product line, the manufacturer spent its first decade securing certification for the original HondaJet HA-420 and its second decade refining that single clean-sheet design through iterative upgrades. The progression to the Elite II and the introduction of retrofit packages like the APMG S demonstrate a strategy focused on residual value and platform maturity. As the company shifts resources toward the larger HondaJet Echelon, it will test whether this disciplined, single-product development model can successfully scale to a new aircraft class.

Sources: Honda Aircraft Company