Embraer is returning to MEBAA with a business jet duo and realistic expectations for the regional show.
“The low oil price has had a huge impact on sales in the Middle East,” says Marco Tulio Pelegrini, president and chief executive of Embraer Executive Jets. “Confidence has been hit, and many people are holding back on aircraft purchases until the market picks up.”
Embraer has an installed base of 50 business jets across the Middle East out of a total global fleet of 1,050 aircraft. Its line-up in the region includes: three entry-level Phenom 100s; three light-cabin Phenom 300s; two midsize Legacy 500s; 33 super-midsize/large-cabin Legacy 600/650s and nine top-of-the-range Lineage 1000 VIP airliners – a third of the global fleet.
“After the USA and Europe, the Middle East is our largest business jet market along with Latin America,” says Pellegrini. “So while the market may be soft, MEBAA gives us an opportunity to promote our aircraft and talk to customers and potential buyers.”
Embraer is displaying on the static a Legacy 500 and 650. “With their large cabins and impressive ranges, these aircraft are well suited to the Middle East market,” he says.
While the two top-end jets will be centre of attention during the three-day show, the Brazilian airframer is continuing to promote the other members of its six-strong line-up.
The Phenom 100 is courting success as a training platform, thanks to orders for four and five aircraft, respectively, from the Etihad and Emirates flight training academies.
Etihad has already taken delivery of two units and will add the remainder in 2017.
Deliveries to the Emirates academy – established by the Dubai flag carrier and scheduled to open early next year – will begin in the first quarter. All five aircraft are expected to be in service by the end of 2017.
Emirates recently upgraded its order to the 100EV variant, featuring a Garmin G3000 touch-screen flightdeck and a higher-thrust version of the Phenom 100’s Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F1-E engine.
“Being in service with these well known companies will give the Phenom 100 so much exposure, and help to widen its appeal within other sectors,” says Pellegrini.
He points to suitability of the Phenom family for commercial operations.
“The Phenoms have a great future in the air taxi market,” he says – referring to the low-cost, high-utilisation, point-to-point business model operated by US companies such as JetSuite and Surf Air. “These aircraft are designed for this mission – a typical utilisation of around 1,200h year, low operating costs and a high level of cabin comfort.”
He admits it may take a while for these small jets to gain widespread acceptance in the Middle East, given the region’s penchant for much larger aircraft. “Once this business model has been tried and tested elsewhere, it will transfer to the Middle East, and be successful,” says Pellegrini.
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Source: Flight International
