Embraer has once again flirted with the idea of launching a commercial jet larger than its current aircraft to compete in the market with the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320.
In an interview with Bloomberg, the CEO of the Brazilian planemaker, Francisco Gomes Neto, acknowledged that studies for an aircraft of this size are ongoing.
“We are doing studies for a new product, but we don’t have any concrete plans yet,” he stated.
As has happened on other occasions, Gomes Neto stated that the “focus now is really on selling the products we have”, referring to the E-Jet family of passenger jets with up to 150 seats.
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Rumors about a new family of commercial aircraft have been emerging since the beginning of the year and Embraer itself has fueled speculation.
However, the large investment required and the risks inherent in a project of this magnitude work against the company’s ambitions.
Furthermore, the transition initiated in the industry in favor of a sustainable energy matrix brings worrying uncertainties about which technology will prevail in the coming decades.
To keep up with these changes, Embraer created the “Energia” family of aircraft with hybrid propulsion using electricity, hydrogen and SAF, but these are studies that may or may not lead to mass-produced products.
Shares appreciated
Embraer has enjoyed prestige among market analysts due to its financial results and also positive news such as the closing of commercial agreements in its various divisions.
In recent days, shares appreciated again after the company confirmed a US$ 70 million investment in a new MRO center in Texas, while its subsidiary Eve Air Mobility obtained a second financing from the Brazilian government to implement the assembly line for its eVTOL.
Despite this, there is a certain difference between expectations and reality in some aircraft programs.
The celebrated C-390 Millennium, an airlifter more capable than the renowned C-130 Hercules, has so far received 40 orders and purchase intentions, but almost half of them come from the Brazilian Air Force, which is also a partner in the project.
The aircraft is participating in several competitions and recently suggested that three countries – Chile, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco – would be among the next customers.
The E190-E2 and E195-E2 jets, which have high operational efficiency, had only 326 firm orders as of June. In 2024, the only public announcement came from the state-owned Mexicana de Aviación, which signed an agreement for 20 aircraft.
The company, like Boeing and Airbus, is feeling the effects of problems with the supply chain, which has thwarted a faster pace of deliveries.
This Friday, Embraer will reveal its delivery and order data for the third quarter, when we will know if there are new reasons for such optimism regarding the manufacturer.
