Embraer’s New Aircraft to Be a Turboprop with Jet Characteristics

Brazilian planemaker Embraer’s new turboprop aircraft, introduced through a tweet late last year, will come to the market in 2025. The company aims to revolutionize the market and create a “jet-like experience” for 70-90 passengers.

“Our next-gen turboprop design continues to develop. As well as being faster, with lower operating costs and with more personal space than others on the market, the rear mounted engines reduce cabin noise for a jet-like experience,” posted on Twitter Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer.

This new airplane, known as “E3,” features a similar design to ERJ140’s, with a long airframe, a rear engine and no winglets. “With its innovative features, the new plane will be able to replace the current 50-seat units. Our idea is to create a turboprop with jet characteristics,” said to A21 Luis Affonso, Senior Vice President of Engineering of Embraer. “The rear engine will reduce cabin noise for a better passenger experience and open up opportunities in the future inclusion of hydrogen-based fuel tanks. The aircraft concept also generates 10 percent more personal space, reduces operating costs per seat by 15 percent and is 20 percent faster than current turboprops.”

The protype aircraft will also be of similar size to the ATR-72, with which it will compete, told John Slattery, Commercial Aviation Chief Executive of Embraer, to Reuters. Slattery mentioned that ATR held a “de facto monopoly” in the below-150-seat market, which Embraer hopes to disrupt. “It sits in our target market, which we have always been clear is below 150 seats, and will have natural adjacency to the E2 offering,” said Slattery to Reuters.

Embraer seems to be recovering after a rough period. In 2Q2021, the Brazilian company registered net profits for the first time since 1Q2018, with US$43.6 million. The planemaker reported it sold 20 jets and 14 E-jets, 12 more than in 2Q2020. However, 1H2021 for Embraer is still negative, following the US$89.7 million loss it suffered in 1Q2021.

Embraer also reported that it received 48 new orders for commercial airplanes during 2Q2021, making its order-book grow from 1904 to 1952 aircraft. The Brazilian planemaker plans to close 2021 with total deliveries of 135-145 aircraft, a higher figure than the 130 distributed in 2020.

According to the company, there are over 2,500 commercial Embraer aircraft flying all over the world. In Mexico, Aeroméxico Connect’s entire fleet is made up of Embraer 190, with 44 planes travelling to 44 local destinations, 11 in the US and 5 in Central America and the Caribbean. The other 7 Embraer airplanes (ERJ145ER) in Mexico belong to TAR Aerolíneas.