The executive vice president for Corporate Communication at Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica), Horacio Aragonés Forjaz, says the firm’s presence at the fifth China Air Show, was a success.
“Crowned with success is the way to put it. We had a great exhibition and gained important visibility,” he declared.
The China Air Show is one of Asia’s biggest. Forjaz called the Chinese market “strategic,” due to its strong growth and market potential.
Forjaz revealed that Embraer seeks joint ventures with the Chinese and has been able to close a deal with two Chinese firms.
The Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry (HEAI) was officially set up in February 2003, by Embraer and it partners, Harbin Aviation Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. and Hafei Aviation Industry Co., Ltd (which are controlled by AVIC II – China Aviation Industry Corporation II).
The Chinese partners have 51% of the shares in the joint venture. HEAI will manufacture the Embraer regional aircraft ERJ 145 in China.
HEAI got its first order from China Southern Airlines in February 2004 for six ERJ 145s, which will be delivered by January 2005.
They will join five other Embraer aircraft that have been flying in China as part of the Sichuan Airlines fleet since 2000.
Partnership
Participation at the Zhuhai trade show this year was the first since Embraer set up the joint venture in China to manufacture the ERJ 145 aircraft.
In just under 11 months, after being established Embraer’s Harbin-based facility rolled out the first 50-passenger ERJ 145 jet.
The first order for Embraer’s new Chinese facility came in February 2004 from China Southern Airlines. HEAI’s launch customer, also the largest airline in the country, ordered six ERJ 145 airplanes, adding to a fleet of five ERJs flying in China since 2000 in the colors of Sichuan Airlines.
Deliveries to China Southern began in June 2004 and will extend through January 2005.
“Embraer sees the strengthening of air transportation in China as a key component of the country’s development and the Harbin assembly line is a clear sign of our long-term commitment to the progress of Chinese aeronautical industry,” said Guan Dongyuan, Embraer Director for the Civil Aviation Market in China.
“The establishment of the Harbin Embraer facility, combined with the introduction of the new EMBRAER 170/190 family of commercial airliners, places Embraer in a privileged position to serve Chinese operator customers, as experienced by airlines all over the world”, added Guan.
In terms of market trends in China, load factors show clearly there is a significant number of routes that could be better served with aircraft under 120 seats.
In a recent study, Embraer forecast total Chinese demand for jets in the 30- to 120-seat range at 635 units between 2004 and 2023.
Agência Brasil & Embraer