Embraer says it delivered 28 commercial aircraft in the second quarter of calendar 2018, 11 fewer aircraft compared with the prior corresponding period.
The deliveries in the three months to June 30 2018 comprised one E170, 20 E175s, two E190s, two E195s and three E190-E2s, Embraer said on July 20.
The second quarter performance brings to 42 the number of commercial aircraft Embraer has delivered to customers so far in calendar 2018, putting the company on track to meet its previously announced target of between 85 and 95 aircraft for the year.
While the number of deliveries was down from the second quarter of 2017, Embraer has previously described 2018 as being a year of transition as the E2 family of commercial jets was being introduced.
“Embraer expects 2018 to be a transition year, as the company ramps up the production of the first E2 model, the E190-E2, which is on track for entry into service (EIS) in April 2018,” Embraer said in March.
“Deliveries of the E175 model are likely to continue to represent the vast majority of 2018 deliveries, and the E190-E2 should represent between five and 10 deliveries during the year.”
At the recently concluded Farnborough Airshow, the company recently received firm orders for 25 E175 jets from United Airlines, 10 E195-E2 jets from Watania Airways in Kuwait and two E175s from Mauritania Airlines.
Embraer also announced letters of intent and memoranda of understanding with airlines at Farnborough for about 300 aircraft.
First E190-E2 delivery entered service in April
Embraer delivered the first E190-E2 to launch customer Wideroe in April 2018.
The aircraft PR-EFL, powered by Pratt and Whitney geared turbofan engines, entered service later that month. It is designed to seat between 97 and 114 passengers and had a range of 2,850nm.
“The operation is going really well. We are very happy,” Embraer Commercial Aviation chief commercial officer Arjan Meijer told Australian Aviation in early June.
“With the aircraft certified now we see a lot of attraction and traction in the market, a lot of interest in the airplane and airlines want to talk about it.
“There’s a lot of airlines who want the E2, who want the new technology, who want a cleaner airplane, who want the fuel benefit, who want the more quiet cabin etc.”
VIDEO: The delivery ceremony of the E190-E2 on Embraer’s YouTube channel.
The E190-E2 is one of three variants in the E2 family of aircraft alongside the in-development E195-E2 (2,600nm range, 120-146 seats) and E175-E2 (2,060nm range, 80-90 seats) which are due to enter service in 2019 and 2021, respectively.
The E2 improves on the current generation E-jets with new aerodynamically advanced, high-aspect ratio, distinctively shaped wings, improved systems and avionics, including fourth generation full fly-by-wire flight controls.
This was expected to result in double-digit reductions in fuel and maintenance costs compared with the current E-jet family. From an environmental perspective, the new aircraft also produced less emissions and less noise. The aircraft will also have a new interior with larger overhead bins and a new first class concept, among other interior improvements.
Indeed figures from Embraer showed the E190-E2’s fuel consumption was 17.3 per cent better than the current generation E190 during the flight testing program. It also said the aircraft was “nearly 10 per cent better” than the its direct competitor.
Compared to the first-generation E190, 75 per cent of the aircraft systems are new.
The E2 family of aircraft competes against the Airbus A220 regional jets – which were previously known as the C Series when the program was managed by Bombardier – and others in the up-to-150-seats segment that Embraer estimates will require 10,550 new aircraft over the next 20 years. Of those, airlines in the Asia Pacific region were expected to take delivery of 3,000 aircraft, representing the 28 per cent of total demand.
On July 5, Boeing and Embraer announced plans to establish a joint-venture that aims to boost their competitive offering in the commercial aircraft sector.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Boeing will purchase 80 per cent of Embraer’s commercial aircraft and services business for US$3.8 billion.
Meanwhile, Embraer will have a 20 per cent stake in the new JV.
The deal, following months of negotiations, valued Embraer’s commercial aircraft operations at US$4.75 billion.
It was expected to close at the end of 2019 and was subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, as well as the green light from the Brazil government.
Embraer reports 20 business jet deliveries
Meanwhile, Embraer said it delivered 20 business jets in the second quarter of 2018 – three Phenom 100s, 12 Phenom 300s, one Legacy 650 and four Legacy 450s.
Of the dozen Phenom 300s delivered was a Phenom 300E for Northern Escape Collection. The aircraft was operated by Brisbane-headquartered aircraft and charter management company Avcair on behalf of the Australian tourism company.
It is the first Phenom 300E to be delivered to the Asia Pacific region, Embraer said in a statement on June 28.
Australian Aviation and Embraer are running a photo competition to celebrate Embraer’s 40th anniversary in Australia in 2018. For more details on how to enter, click here.
