Embraer, Brazil's aircraft maker, closed contracts for over US$ 200 million with companies in the Middle East during the Middle East Business Aviation (Meba) exhibition, which took place in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. In all, eight Legacy 500 jets and four Legacy 450 jets were sold.
Two Legacy 500 jets, for the value of US$ 36.8 million, were sold to Falcon Aviation Services (FAS), which is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the Emirates. The first delivery is scheduled to take place in the second quarter of 2014 and Embraer has nominated the company as its authorized service center for executive jet clients in the Middle East.
The first agreement between Embraer and FAS was promoted at the Dubai Air Show 2007, when the company received the first Legacy 600. Now the agreement has been expanded to 11 executive jets: four Phenom 300s, two Legacy 500s, three Legacy 600s and two Lineage 1000s.
The other contract for two Legacy 500s was signed with ASAIG Aviation, an operator of chartered flights from Kuwait that is a subsidiary of Al-Shalfan International group. The first delivery is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2013. With this sale, the Arab company and its subsidiary should have a fleet of ten Embraer aircraft.
The main contract signed by the Brazilian company at the exhibition was with Al Jaber Aviation (AJA), a subsidiary of Al Jaber Group, also from Abu Dhabi. Sales totaled four Legacy 450 jets and four Legacy 500s. The total value of the deal according to the list price is US$ 134.6 million. The start of operations is scheduled for 2013.
This is the second contract signed between Embraer and Al Jaber Aviation. Last year, also at the Dubai Air Show, the Brazilian company announced the sale of five Lineage 1000 aircraft and two Legacy 600s, with options for another two Lineage 1000s and one Legacy 600 for AJA. The company should start operating the Embraer executive jets in early 2009, when it should receive the first Legacy 600.
Copa
Colombian Copa Airlines has taken delivery of its 15th Embraer 190 aircraft. The acquisition of the Brazilian-made Embraer brings Copa's fleet total to 42 aircraft, and maintains its position among the youngest fleets in the region, with an average age of 4.2 years. In addition to its 15 Embraer jets, Copa operates 27 Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft.
"The new Embraer 190 aircraft combines advanced navigation technology with a seating configuration that provides greater comfort for our passengers," said Pedro Heilbron, CEO, Copa Airlines. "Both features are essential to offering world-class service to our customers."
The Embraer 190 is an important part of the airline's growth plan, which includes acquisition of aircraft equipped with technology designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Embraer 190 has seating capacity for 94 passengers, 10 in Business Class (Clase Ejecutiva) and 84 in the main cabin. The main cabin is configured with two seats on each side of the aisle without a middle seat.
Copa Holdings, through its Copa Airlines and Aero Republica operating subsidiaries, is a leading Latin American provider of passenger and cargo service. Copa Airlines currently offers 136 daily scheduled flights to 42 destinations in 22 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean through its Hub of the Americas based in Panama City, Panama.
