Embraer Exec Jets Chief: Wealth, Demand Driving Expansion

Embraer Executive Jets president and CEO Michael Amalfitano said rising global wealth, disciplined production, and a focus on innovation are sustaining strong growth across business aviation. Speaking at Corporate Jet Investor Miami 2025, he described how Embraer is “living a pretty nice moment in industry” and achieving “really unique milestones” across its executive jet business.

Amalfitano highlighted Embraer’s recent rebranding and introduction of a new stock symbol, which he said “represents jets for all the segments.” The company’s delivery of its 2,000th aircraft was another key milestone, he said, reflecting “a really exciting year” for the manufacturer. Embraer’s backlog now totals $7.3 billion—what he agreed was a record level—supported by what he described as a “high concentration” of fleet and fractional customers. “We have 31% of the market in the segments we compete,” he said, adding that Embraer continues to expand “in each of the segments we serve.”

Amalfitano pointed to global wealth creation as a powerful long-term driver for the sector. “If you’re not watching wealth, you’re missing the opportunity for growth,” he said. Citing data from Credit Suisse, he noted that personal wealth worldwide is expected to rise by more than 20% between today and 2029. A report from Altrata projects that wealth creation among ultra-high-net-worth individuals will increase 31% by 2030. “That wealth is coming to private aviation in a significant way,” Amalfitano said. “They’re younger, they’re going to stay in the industry longer, and the growth is more sustainable as a result.”

Embraer’s own delivery and utilization data reinforce that optimism. “We’re up almost 78% in flight activity,” he said, adding that flying by corporate flight departments has increased about 11% since 2019. “The data is very resilient,” he emphasized. “We have a sustainable growth curve.”

On the manufacturing side, Amalfitano outlined Embraer’s emphasis on “production leveling,” which aims to even out manufacturing and delivery flow throughout the year. “If you level load, then you deliver more cash flow to the business, which allows us to invest in MRO, invest in production capabilities, [and] build a new airplane,” he said. That approach, he added, supports “pricing discipline, cash flow discipline, and dividends to shareholders.”

Looking ahead, Amalfitano said Embraer’s innovation strategy is focused on both technology and sustainability. “Everybody wants to know when is Embraer going to build a new airplane,” he said. “Well, wait a second. Let’s talk about the innovations that unlock the potential for a market that doesn’t exist.” He cited electrification, hybrid propulsion, and new materials as examples of developments guiding future product decisions.

“Our innovations are meant to disrupt the next marketplace,” he said. “You’ve got to go faster, you have to be more sustainable, you have to be safer.” Any new aircraft launch, Amalfitano added, will depend on a clear business case and customer need: “If we show up, we better be different than what’s in the marketplace today.”