Embraer released its latest outlook for the Chinese commercial aviation market during the 12th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, which forecasts that the region will take delivery of 1,390 new jets with up to 150 seats over the next 20 years (valued at US$82 billion at list price).
“According to statistics, the Asia-Pacific market enjoyed the strongest growth in terms of passenger volume in 2017. In China, specifically for the domestic market, the growth rate was 13.3%. Thanks to the steady pace of economic growth, continuous investment in airport construction, the implementation of basic air service plans, and the increasing number of middle class that fueled the demand for air travel, we believe for the next 20 years, aircraft with up to 150 seats will enjoy huge potential in China,” said Arjan Meijer, Chief Commercial Officer of Embraer Commercial Aviation.
Over the last few decades, China has introduced a series of favorable policies to support the air traffic growth and made great achievements in airport construction. According to CAAC’s plan, more than 50 new airports will be built during the 13th Five-Year Plan. By 2035, another 140 new airports will be constructed and most of the newly-built airports will be regional. With the increased number of airports, the market calls for more regional aircraft with an appropriate number of seats to develop new routes.
At the same time, data shows that the top 30 airports in China handle nearly 80% of total passengers, which result in the saturated capacity and shortage of slots in hub airports. Therefore, Embraer holds the view that airlines will put more efforts on the second and third-tier cities with abundant aviation sources.
In order to meet the increasing demand for travel, Embraer has launched the E-Jets E2, the newest generation of Embraer jet, aiming to build the most efficient and comfortable single-aisle family of aircraft with up to 150 seats. To date, the E-Jets E2 program has logged 270+ orders, of which 130+ are firm. In China, Embraer has logged 22 E-Jets E2 commitments.
In April 2018, Embraer delivered the first E-Jets E2 to Widerøe of Norway. Currently, three E190-E2s have accumulated more than 2,500 flight hours with Widerøe, achieving outstanding schedule reliability of around 99%.
