Embraer hopeful E2 jets can break into US market, CEO says

Brazilian planemaker Embraer has been trying to sell US carriers on the merits of its E195-E2 jet as a "small narrow-body", even as demand in its No.1 market has remained focused on the smaller, first generation E175-E1. The world's third-largest planemaker after Boeing and Airbus amassed fresh orders for 23 E175-E1 planes from both American Airlines and SkyWest in the third quarter, but sees room for its second generation plane to notch up its first orders there too. "It is an aircraft that can very well complement the operation of large narrow-bodies," CE Francisco Gomes Neto said in an interview on Monday. Breaking into the US market with E2 family would be an important step for the planemaker to further improve its production mix, which this year should show for the first time more second generation jets being delivered than first generation ones. Gomes Neto said he hopes that new flights by Canada's Porter Airlines to cities such as San Francisco and Tampa will help showcase the plane to US carriers. The Canadian firm ordered dozens of planes from Embraer since 2021, making it the first E2 customer in North America. The E195-E2 seats up to 146 passengers, while the E175-E1 has up to 88 seats. "I think we'll manage to convince them that the E195-E2 is not a regional plane, but what we've been calling a 'small narrow-body' that the majors could operate very efficiently, helping them offer a higher frequency of flights during the day, explore routes, open routes," Gomes Neto said.<br/>