The CEO of Embraer stated that the increase in demand for commercial aircraft could open up space for other companies, challenging the leadership of French Airbus and American Boeing in the so-called wide body segment, planes with a wider fuselage.
The statements were made to Francisco Gomes Neto, president of the Brazilian manufacturer and third largest in the segment, in an interview with the English newspaper Financial Times at the company’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, in the Paraíba valley of São Paulo.
“When I look at projections for the next 20 years, we see an opportunity for 40,000 aircraft in this segment. That’s a lot. I think there’s room for more than two manufacturers, right? Maybe three or four,” he said.
Gomes Neto stated that the company is studying options for the next generation of commercial and executive jets, but stated that a decision should only occur in the next decade, as the current priority is to sell existing models.
He also stated that some Embraer customers “say they would like to have more options”, but considered that there is a “huge distance between saying something and buying”.
The head of the Brazilian company stated that it seeks to expand foreign sales of military products, such as the KC-390, and pursues new opportunities for civil jets, such as India. Gomes Neto also said that the company is working on plans to assemble the military model in the United States, as part of a project to win the tender from the American Air Force, which defends the construction of military equipment in American territory.
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Regarding Eve, an electric air taxi from the company’s subsidiary, he said he expects commercial operation by the end of 2027. The company that manufactures so-called eVTOLs is one of Embraer’s main growth bets.
