Embraer has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with China Aviation Supplies Import and Export (CASC) and Sichuan Airlines for the acquisition of five ERJ-145 regional jets.
The order, first revealed in December, will introduce the 50-seater into the Chinese market. Sichuan operates a fleet of five Airbus A320s, two A321s, four Xian (XAC) Y-7 turboprops and one XAC MA60.
"We believe this decision will lead Embraer to additional opportunities in China," says Embraer president Mauricio Botelho. Market forecasts predict a demand for 400-500 regional jets in China over the next ten years.
The signing of the LoI coincides with the opening of a commercial representative office in Beijing.
Embraer's sales director for China, Orlando Ferro, tells Flight International's sister on-line news service Air Transport Intelligence that it is hoping to finalise the contract with Sichuan later this month, allowing deliveries to run from October into early 2001.
Source: Flight International
