[5] Lead designer and company founder Michimasa Fujino began sketching the HondaJet in 1997, and the concept was solidified in 1999.

[11][12][13] To better understand the commercial potential of the HondaJet, Fujino publicly displayed it for the first time on July 28, 2005, at the annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh airshow.

[19] The first FAA-conforming (built to Federal Aviation Administration rules) HondaJet achieved its first flight on December 20, 2010.

This enabled continued production[26][27] and demonstration flights, including a HondaJet tour in Japan and Europe in 2015.

[27][35] Honda delivered the first customer aircraft on December 23, 2015, at its world headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina.

[41][42] In July 2019, Honda Aircraft began construction of a new $15.5 million, 82,000-square-foot (7,600 m2) wing assembly center on its campus.

[43] The new facility, which is meant to enhance production efficiency by allowing wings to be assembled concurrently,[44] was opened in September 2020.

[45] In May 2018, the $5.2 million (as of 2018) HondaJet Elite was revealed,[46] with an expanded performance envelope, improved interior and updated flight deck.

[47] A new engine inlet reduces vibration and cabin noise, the lavatory receives a belted seat allowing a seventh occupant even with a galley; avionics improvements with Garmin G3000-based flight deck include takeoff and landing (TOLD) calculations, angle of attack protection, and Flight Stream 510[clarification needed]functionality.

[52] In October 2019, Honda Aircraft Company presented first medevac-configured HondaJet Elite for air ambulance use.

[54] In 2020, EASA certified HondaJet Elite for steep approaches (descent angles of up to 5.5°), and for up to eight occupants (with the galley replaced by a seat).

[59] Avionics upgrades include takeoff and landing (TOLD) calculations, Flight Stream 510 wireless gateway compatibility, an enhanced electronic checklist, angle-of-attack indicator on the PFD, and visual approaches.

[58] On the other hand, HondaJet Elite features such as an additional fuel tank or engine inlet acoustic improvement, are not available with APMG.

[60] On October 12, 2021, Honda unveiled the HondaJet 2600 Concept, at the 2021 NBAA Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition as a mockup was displayed; with a cabin for up to 11 seats, it offers a range of 2,625 nmi (4,862 km; 3,021 mi), a cruising speed of 450 kn (830 km/h; 520 mph) and a ceiling of 47,000 ft (14,000 m).

[62] With a double club seating, the HondaJet 2600 concept was intended for testing the market to assess demand before deciding to launch the program.

[64] The HA-480 Echelon is to be certified as a variant to share a common type rating with similar Garmin G3000 cockpits.

[65] Announced on October 17, 2022, the $6.95 million new model has improved aerodynamics, increased fuel capacity and gross weight by 200 lb (91 kg), giving a range of 1,547 nmi (2,865 km; 1,780 mi) and a cruise of 422 kn (782 km/h; 486 mph).

[71] This configuration maximizes cabin space by removing the structure required to mount engines on the rear of the fuselage.

[9] The nose and wing are designed for laminar flow, and the main fuselage has a constant profile, making an eventual stretch easier.

The combination of engine placement, wing and fuselage was achieved using computer simulations and wind tunnels.

[100] In May 2023, fractional ownership company Jet It voluntarily grounded its fleet of HA-420s, following a runway excursion on landing on May 17, 2023, which involved a different operator.

Jet It CEO Glenn Gonzales indicated that Honda's customer support was "grossly inadequate" and announced plans in the autumn of 2022 to sell its fleet of HondaJets and buy Embraer Phenom 300s instead.

[101] The first fatal accident involving a HondaJet happened on November 5, 2024, when an HA-420 with registration N57HP overran the runway on takeoff and crashed into a vehicle on the adjacent road at Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona.