Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has released its 2021 delivery numbers. Embraer delivered a total of 141 jets in 2021, comprised of 48 commercial aircraft and 93 executive jets (62 light and 31 mid-size). In the last three months of the year, the plane builder delivered 55 jets, of which 16 were commercial aircraft and 39 were executive jets (26 light and 13 mid-size).
The announcement wraps up a bumper year for Embraer during which it sealed aircraft deals with Nigeria's Overland Airways, American Airlines, Azorra, and NetJets. Embraer also signed services and support contracts with KLM Cityhopper and TAP Express.
Breaking the deliveries down, Embraer delivered 27 E175 jets last year, two E-190-E2 jets and 19 E195-E2 jets for a total of 48 deliveries over the course of the year. The São Paulo-based aerospace company also delivered six Phenom 100 executive jets and 56 Phenom 300 jets last year, giving a total of 62 light jets delivered. Of the 31 mid-sized executive jets delivered, 14 were Praetor 500 jets and 17 were Praetor 600s.
Embraer's order backlog is worth a tidy US$17 billion
As of December 31, Embraer had a firm order backlog of 325 aircraft worth US$17 billion. That backlog comprises 147 E175 passenger jets, 170 E195-E2 passenger jets, three E190 passenger jets, and five E190-E2 passenger jets.
Of those 170 E195-E2 jets on order, 51 are destined for Brazil's Azul, 33 are going to Aercap, 30 are heading to Porter Airlines, 20 are off to Azoma, 19 are going to Aercastle, Nigeria's Air Peace is taking eight, seven are heading to Chinese lessor ICBC, and two are off to Congo Airways.
The customers lining up for Embraer's E190-E2 include Congo Airways and Aercastle who are each taking two of the planes. Air Kiribati is taking one E190-E2.
The biggest customer for the E175 jet is Republic Airways which has 100 on order. Another substantial order also comes from a US-based carrier; Skywest Airlines is taking 27 of the planes. Mopping up the surplus is KLM with seven E175s on order and American Airlines and Overland Airways who are each taking three. A further seven A175s are going to undisclosed customers. The three outstanding E190s are going to Egypt's CIAF Leasing.
Work on Embraer's E175-E2 jet paused
Embraer notes the E2 family aircraft accumulated 50 firm orders in 2021 and did not have any cancelations, solidifying its position in the regional market segment. While Embraer is pleased with its overall numbers in 2021 and notes its backlog is the highest since 2018, not everything is peachy in São Paulo.
On Friday, Embraer quietly suspended work on the slow-selling E175-E2 jet for another three years. Embraer now targets an entry into service later in the decade. The jet has hit a sales wall because its efficient Pratt & Whitney engines make the plane too heavy to fly in the US per existing contractual agreements between US regional airlines and pilot unions - the so-called scope clause.
"The Board of Directors approved a three-year pause in its E175-E2 jet development program," Embraer said in a market update on Friday.
"As in previous years, the reprogramming of activities is associated with the ongoing US mainline scope clause discussions with the pilot unions regarding the maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) limitation for aircraft with up to 76 seats, together with current global market conditions for commercial aviation and the continuing interest in the current E175 jet in the US market."The Company expects to resume the program development activities following the aforementioned period, which will result in a re-programming of the aircraft entry into service between 2027 and 2028."