According to the Wall Street Journal, the company plans to develop a new jet to compete with the best-selling models from Boeing and AirbusPublicityBrazilian.
Aircraft manufacturer Embraer on Wednesday downplayed a report that it is planning to develop a new jet to directly compete with Boeing and Airbus’ best-selling models, saying it has no plans for a major spending cycle.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the world’s third-largest aircraft manufacturer is exploring options for a new narrow-body jet to move away from its regional niche and “compete head-on” with the 737 MAX and A320neo in the busiest part of the market.
Internal studies have determined that the company has the technological know-how and manufacturing capacity to develop a next-generation slim body, which would be the first in this larger segment, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.
Continues after advertisement”Embraer certainly has the capability to develop a new narrow-body aircraft. However, we have a young and very successful portfolio of products developed in recent years, and we are truly focused on selling these products and making Embraer bigger and stronger,” said an Embraer spokesperson.
“We have no plans for a significant investment cycle at this time,” the spokesperson added.
Embraer competes in the regional jet market with its E2 family for 90 to 120 passengers, positioned below the market for more than 150 seats dominated by the transatlantic duopoly of MAX and A320neo jets, in which China recently entered with its C919.
PublicityIts main competitor is the A220 with 110 to 130 seats, which Airbus acquired from Bombardier in 2018, after the Canadian manufacturer ditched plans to compete in the lower end of the jet market segment.
