Brazilian airframer Embraer boosted deliveries in 2023 to 181 aircraft, a 13% improvement on the previous year’s figure.
The increase hinged on a fourth-quarter surge during which 75 aircraft were handed over, according to Embraer. Still, shipments in the last three months of the year fell against the same period of 2022 when the Brazilian airframer managed to deliver 80 aircraft.
Fourth-quarter deliveries comprised 49 business jets, 25 commercial aircraft, and one C-390 tactical transport.
Despite growth in 2023, Embraer has yet to surpass its 2019 shipment total of 198 aircraft. It says that supply chain delays continued to be a challenge in 2023, affecting deliveries.
For the entire year, Embraer handed over 115 business jets (74 Phenoms and 41 Praetors), up from 102 in 2022. Despite the year-on-year improvement, it fell short of Embraer’s guidance of 120-130 business aircraft deliveries.
Embraer also missed its guidance for commercial aircraft deliveries, with 64 E-Jets handed over – 38 E195-E2s, one E190-E2, and 25 E175s – against its 2023 forecast of 65-70 aircraft.
The defence business made only two deliveries during the year, a pair of C-390s.
Embraer’s firm order backlog grew by $1.2 billion to $18.7 billion, its highest level since early 2018.
Embraer also continues to see good demand across all three business segments.
In business aviation,there is strong interest from both retail and fleet customers, it says.
Embraer Defence & Security had a good 2023, which included South Korea’s decision to obtain three C-390s, marking the type’s first success in the Asia-Pacific. Austria and the Czech Republic also selected the twinjet transport.
Book-to-bill at Embraer Commercial Aviation was in excess of 1.1, says the company, with the backlog growing by $200 million. Highlights included Porter Airlines exercising purchase rights for 25 E195-E2s, adding to 50 firm orders.
Embraer’s Services & Support business also had a good year, with its backlog growing $400 million to $3.1 billion. The backlog includes logistical support and airframe maintenance programmes.
