In the planemaker’s second quarter earnings call, Embraer’s executives noted that the industry was facing difficult times. However, there was hope for the Brazilian manufacturer as the company stated the Embraer line of regional jets has been powering some of the recovery in global aviation.
A large majority of E-Jets are in service
In data presented during the call, Embraer noted that 90% of E175s in the United States were actively flying. This compares to 75% of CRJ900s, which are a comparable size. When looking at other narrowbody aircraft as a whole, only about 61% of those planes were active.
Embraer also discussed the specific number of commercial jets in service. About 70% of all Embraer commercial jets delivered are in active service. From April to July, the number of Embraer’s regional jets in service increased by 13%– a healthy increase.
In raw numbers, there were over 2,000 Embraer commercial jets in service back in March. That dipped to just over 1,200 in April and grew steadily. In July, there were just under 1,500 Embraer commercial jets in service.
The Embraer jets are working well for domestic travel
The current recovery has shown that there is more demand for short-haul travel domestically within the US and abroad or continentally in Europe. For those flights, the E-Jets work very well. On many routes within the United States that were downgauged amid the current crisis, the E-Jets took over from Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 family aircraft. Most US operators cap the E175 at about 76 seats, making them ideal for a bunch of routes.
The E175 family is also quite flexible. US airlines use them for high-demand short-haul routes such as from Boston to New York, Los Angeles to San Francisco, Chicago to Detroit, and more. In October, Alaska Airlines is also planning on putting the E175s in service in Alaska to keep more communities connected to the global economy.
More on the lines of flexibility, Embraer recently developed a solution for its aircraft to carry more cargo. This is a much-needed advancement that will support airlines in the current demand environment.
Embraer’s E-Jets have had a good quarter in a bad time
Where Boeing and Airbus see deferrals and cancellations mount, Embraer has continued to maintain its stable production program. While there were no new significant orders, Embraer still kept its impressive commercial backlog with no cancellations. In the second quarter, the airline delivered the 1,600th E-Jet to Helvetic Airways– which also took an impressive transatlantic jaunt.
Helvetic Airways upgraded orders for four E190-E2s to the larger E195-E2. Congo Airways upgraded two E175s to orders for two E190-E2s. Unfortunately, however, Embraer did announce the delay of the E175-E2 to 2023. Although, given the current environment, that might be a good thing for the manufacturer given how airlines are not placing new aircraft orders and seeking to delay deliveries. Boeing also delayed its latest widebody, the 777X, by a year.
Have you flown on an Embraer jet during the crisis? Let us know in the comments!
