Embraer is exhibiting here at the Dubai Airshow with various aircraft in the static display plus an E-Jet E2 cabin concept on its stand in the Hall (Stand 2260), showing the comfort that can soon be expected from its latest airliner. Outside it has a Super Tucano demonstrator, which is making its show debut, along with four business jets–a Legacy 500, a Legacy 650, a Lineage 1000E and a Phenom 300 light jet.
As the show approached, the company released its third quarter results, recording deliveries of 21 commercial and 30 executive aircraft in the three-month period (the executive category broke down as 21 light and nine large jets). In the first nine months of the year the totals rose to 68 and 75 (57 light and 18 large), respectively. Meanwhile it closed 20 firm orders in Q3 for E-Jets (current generation not E2), taking the total backlog for all E-Jets to 146 firm. Its quarterly revenue showed 3.6 percent growth over 2014, to $1.285 billion, including defense and security business.
Speaking at the General Assembly of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) in Berlin last month, Mathieu Duquesnoy, Embraer v-p Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said the Brazilian manufacturer is forecasting a need for 6,350 jets in the 70-to 130-seat class over the next 20 years.
He said that the E2 jet was “on track” with the first fuselage assembled, and first flight due in the first half of 2016. Following that it will be 18-to-24 months before EIS in the first half of 2018.
Embraer says Middle East carriers are starting to turn their thoughts to regional aircraft as well as building comprehensive global networks. The OEM projected, “There are good opportunities for intra-regional aviation.” The number of intra-regional Middle Eastern “city pairs” (up to 2,000 nm apart and suitable for its products) more than doubled during the 2004-2014 period, according to Embraer.
Embraer said that around two-thirds of intra-regional flights are operated by aircraft with 130-to-180 seats, but many can carry 130 passengers or fewer, so right-sizing could be of interest to them.