The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer envisions new jet sales to Chinese buyers and a closer collaboration with Chinese suppliers, as the Brazilian government strengthens ties with the Asian country while relations between the United States and China appear to further deteriorate.
However, the possibility of the Brazilian manufacturer securing significant sales of its regional jets, the E-Jet E2, remains uncertain, especially given that previous attempts to tap into Chinese demand yielded limited results.
According to Flight Global, during an investor event held on November 18 in New York, the CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, Arjan Meijer, emphasized the importance of the Chinese aviation market for the Brazilian company, describing it as full of opportunities.
Meijer pointed out that Embraer’s E-Jet E2 models are well-suited for operation by Chinese airlines, complementing aircraft manufactured in China.
Specifically, Meijer mentioned that the E190-E2 and E195-E2 models can cater to a market segment not directly covered by Chinese manufacturers’ jets, such as the C909 from Comac, which seats between 80 and 100 passengers, and the C919, which has a capacity for 160 to 190 passengers. While the E190-E2 can accommodate between 97 and 114 passengers, the E195-E2 can carry between 120 and 146.
“I believe the benefit of the E2 family is that it really complements Chinese products,” Meijer stated. “The E190-E2 and the E195-E2 are two aircraft that fit perfectly in the middle.”
Additionally, he described the E190-E2 as “an excellent aircraft for operating in hot and high-altitude conditions in China, especially for connecting to the Tibetan Plateau”
As part of its participation in the Zhuhai Airshow, Embraer organized a «supplier day» aimed at «deepening collaboration with China’s aviation industry.»
The company also highlighted Brazil’s strong diplomatic relations with China, its largest trading partner, according to the World Bank. These ties have recently grown stronger.
On November 20, Reuters reported that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Chinese President Xi Jinping, present in Brazil for the G20 summit, signed nearly 40 new economic agreements covering sectors such as agriculture, solar energy, communications, and power.
Meanwhile, trade relations between the United States and China remain tense and could worsen if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his promise to impose substantial additional tariffs on Chinese imports.
Trump also stated that he would reduce tariffs on imports from other countries, including U.S. allies, measures that some analysts warn could push these allies closer to China.
It remains unclear whether Embraer’s optimistic statements will translate into more E-Jet sales to Chinese buyers.
Embraer has had some success selling first-generation E-Jets to Chinese airlines, securing contracts for around 100 aircraft with carriers like China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, and Colorful Guizhou Airlines. However, sales of the E2 models in China have been less promising so far, although ICBC Leasing placed an order for 10 E195-E2 aircraft.
