Chinese joint venture company Harbin Embraer has completed production of its first two ERJ-145s, but the aircraft will not be delivered to launch customer China Southern Airlines until the new Baiyun International Airport is opened in Guangzhou, writes Brendan Sobie.
The deliveries, contractually scheduled for June, could occur in the last week of the month if the new airport opens on time.
China Southern plans to base its ERJ fleet - four additional ERJ-145s have also been ordered for delivery from August through January - at its Guangzhou hub but has not yet selected initial routes for the aircraft. The airline has told Embraer it does not want to operate the aircraft at the old airport to avoid potential problems with the later move to Baiyun.
Managing director of Embraer China, Guan Dong Yuan, says China Southern will be ready to begin ERJ operations at the end of June as the flight crew and mechanics have already been trained. However, any postponement in the airport opening - some airlines are sceptical the airport will open by the end of June - could result in delivery delays. "We're trying to fix the date. We still have to figure out the availability of the customer," Guan says.
The first Harbin-assembled ERJ-145, which made its maiden flight last December, could have been delivered in the first quarter but China Southern did not place the long anticipated order until February and did not want the aircraft until mid-year. Guan says several other prospective customers have also been reluctant to order the aircraft, claiming Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) policies are restricting growth of China's regional airline industry.
Unfavourable policies include landing and operating fees that are levied on all aircraft irrespective of size, he says.
Source: Flight International
