With reported ambitions to rival Boeing and Airbus as the top manufacturer of commercial aircraft, Brazilian-based aerospace corporation, Embraer S.A., is already the third largest civil aircraft manufacturer in the world, having delivered over 8,000 airplanes. Among its offerings are regional jets with capacities of up to 146 seats, and the company prides itself in their narrow design.

Embraer has made it to the list of the top 100 defense contractors in the world, with a reported revenue of US$5.3 billion in 2023. The company has almost 22,000 employees at its 27 offices and operations in ten countries, including eight in the United States. But just what exactly is this company, where did it come from, and what can we expect from it in the future?

Embraer S.A.—Overview

In an effort to bring aerospace technology home, Getúlio Vargas’ Estado Novo’s Brazilian government founded Embraer in 1969, with Ozires Silva, a government appointee, serving as the company’s first president. Headquarters were opened up in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil, where they still are today. While the initial intention for the company was to make military aircraft designed for the Brazilian Air Force (BAF), Embraer added commuter and regional export airliners to its resume in the 1980s with great success.

In 1994, the company was privatized and started working on large regional airliners and executive aviation, while still being commissioned by the Brazilian government. It became a public limited company in 2000, and has military, commercial, executive, and agricultural aviation divisions, as well as programs in place for new technologies and businesses in the industry.

Military Aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force

In 1968, a twin-turboprop plane designed by Embraer for both civilian and military use, the EMB 110 Bandeirante, was introduced. The Bandeirante could carry up to 21 passengers, and was put to use in the military in 1973. The company made 503 of these planes until 1990. In the 1970s and 1980s, Embraer’s focus was mainly on military aircraft, like the AT-26 Xavante, and the EMB 312 Tucano, and up until 1975, the company sold only to the domestic market. In 1985, Embraer launched the 90-passenger twin-turboprop EMB 120 Brasilia military aircraft.

Exciting developments took place in 2007 when the company shared its desire to make twin-jet military transport—something that the BAF and the country’s postal service was keen on, too. The government financially backed the project, and in 2009, Embraer started working on the multi-mission transport C-390 Millennium using a lot of the same technology as the Embraer 190. Argentina and other South American countries showed interest in the C-390, which was designed to carry up to 23 tons of cargo.

In 2019, Embraer and the BAF started developing the Short Take Off Utility Transport (STOUT) light military transport aircraft to replace the aging Bandeirante and Brasilia planes. This light jet is yet to take its first flight and not much else has been released on the project. However, the company is still servicing the military, providing aircraft like the C-390, the light attack A-29 Super Tucano, and the surveillance P600 AEW&C aircraft. It also provides planes for special military missions, like pilot training, flight inspection, and medical evacuation.

Commercial Aviation and E-Jets

Embraer’s commercial aviation division has become one of the leading producers of aircraft for the regional market. The company is best known for its narrow-bodied ERJ and advanced range E-Jets. Embraer created the E-Jets, with the E170, E175, E190, and E195 being the models most commonly used by various airlines around the world, for short to medium-haul flights.

These planes are popular as, in addition to being fuel efficient, they offer several other perks, including advanced technology, and passenger comfort. Embraer got the ball rolling for a new range of 50–70 seat turboprop regional airliners to compliment the E-Jet E2 in 2019—the E175-E2, a plane with a 70–90 passenger capacity, and quieter aft-mounted engines, which is still under development (although some reports say that this has been axed).

Embraer eVTOLs

Bursting into the military, regional, and commercial sectors were just the first of Embraer’s impressive feats. In the late 2010s, the company started thinking about the urban air mobility (UAM) market, specifically electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This new plane class uses electricity to propel it in a vertical direction for landing and takeoff—no runway needed! They are best for short-distance trips in cities.

In 2017, the company established another subsidiary, Embraer-X, a department that focuses on UAM innovation and development solutions, with headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Over the years, the subsidiary has collaborated with various stakeholders, including Uber Elevate, Republic Airways, and Greentown Labs, to develop eVTOL aircraft prototypes that align with market needs.

Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions

In 2020, a further spin-off was created by Embraer, Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions (Eve) to focus on all matters UAM, from eVTOL development to air traffic management solutions. Eve has already secured multiple partnerships and pre-orders for its eVTOLs, from companies like Blade Urban Air Mobility, Halo Aviation, and Bristow Group. There’s also a merger in the works for Eve with Zanite Acquisition Corp. Eve also recently announced its plans for an electric flying taxi factory near São Paulo. All in all, the future looks bright for Embraer’s presence in the eVTOL market.

Executive and Regional Aircraft

In an effort to expand to new markets, Embraer launched a business version of its regional jet, the Legacy 600, then opened a subsidiary specifically for the sector, Embraer Executive Jets, in 2002. Embraer then made two mid-size planes, the Legacy 450 and Legacy 500, and a deluxe version of its E190, the Lineage 1000. The subsidiary has had great success with the company delivering 1,000 executive jets by 2016. Two new business jets were added in 2018, the mid-size Praetor 500, and the slightly larger Praetor 600. The latest to be added is the ultra-lightweight Phenom 100EX, a flashier version of the Phenom 300.

Embraer Aircraft

Here are some more details about the most popular Embraer aircraft groups, their planes, and key characteristics.

EMB Family

The EMB family was the company’s first group of small and regional commuter aircraft to have great success, and, to this day, is mainly made up of older plane models. Introduced in 1973, and designed for short-haul flights, the EMB 110 Bandeirante sported a Twin-turboprop engine and could seat 15 passengers. The company launched the regional turboprop EMB 120 Brasilia aircraft in 1985. This plane had a seating capacity of 30, and was an Enhanced version of the Bandeirante. These commercially successful planes served various airlines, charter companies, and government agencies globally.

ERJ 145 Family

The ERJ 145 family is a series of regional jet airliners that Embraer introduced in 1996, and has since been widely adopted by regional airlines, charter operators, and corporate aviation fleets around the world. Created to meet the growing demand for regional jet aircraft, and designed to offer efficient and comfortable air travel for short to medium-range routes, the planes in the range are powered by twin turbofan engines mounted on pylons under the wings, and have spacious interiors and large windows.

They’re versatile enough to operate in a variety of conditions, including on short runways, and difficult or small airports. The ERJ range consists of three main models: the ERJ 135, ERJ 140, and ERJ 145. The family’s base model, the ERJ 145, made its first flight in 1995, and in 1998, it was delivered to Continental Express. The smallest aircraft in the range, the ERJ 135, first flew in 1998, and seats around 37 passengers, with a maximum range of approximately 1,750 nautical miles. Continental Express took this one, too, in 1999.

Taking its maiden flight in 2000, the ERJ 140—a slightly stretched version of the 135, seating 44 people—was received by American Eagle Airlines in the same year. It’s the family’s standard variant and most widely produced plane, with a maximum range of around 1,550 nautical miles. Embraer has also made a couple of variants in the same family; the extended-range ERJ 145XR, and the ERJ 145MP military patrol aircraft. Despite the introduction of newer aircraft models, many of the ERJ 145 planes are still in service.

E-Jet Family

Introduced in the early 2000s, the Embraer E-Jet family is a series of narrow-body, medium-range, twin-engine jet airliners designed for regional and domestic flights. This is the company’s most successful range, with many airlines around the world leasing them for their operational flexibility and suitability for smaller airports. The 66–78-passenger E170, and the 76–88-passenger E175, which took their first flights in 2002 and 2004 respectively, have an approximate range of 2,100—2,400 nautical miles, so are used for short to medium-haul routes. They are fuel efficient, and offer two-class seating options.

In 2004 and 2005, Embraer released the larger E190 (96–114 seats) and E195 (100–124 seats) planes that have a wider cabin. These jets have a range of around 2,300—2,600 nautical miles so are suitable for medium-haul routes, and are often used for high-demand regional flights.

Next-Gen E-Jet E2 Family

Embraer’s E-Jets are known for their comfortable, spacious cabins with no middle seats, large windows, and ample overhead bin space. They’re fuel efficient, have lower maintenance costs, and feature advanced technology, fly-by-wire controls, and quieter engines. This, coupled with the company’s focus on reducing carbon emissions, makes them economically and functionally attractive to airlines.

The first aircraft in the range was the E190-E2. Taking its first flight in 2016, and released in 2018, this plane has a range of roughly 2,850 nautical miles and can take 97–114 passengers. It also offers up to 17.3% less fuel burn than the E-190. Next came the E195-E2, the largest jet in the series, that can accommodate up to 146 people. It boasts the best seat-mile cost among single-aisle jets, improved aerodynamics, new wings, and more efficient engines.

Embraer is currently working on the smaller regional E175-E2 jet. Despite having taken its first flight in 2019, its introduction was postponed until 2027 due to market and regulatory considerations, and development is currently ongoing.

Commissions and Leasing

Embraer also leases its planes to many commercial airlines. In 1974, the American Piper Aircraft Corporation licensed Embraer to make its light airplanes, and by 2000, the manufacturer had produced over 2,000 planes for Piper, in the following models: EMB 820 Navajo, EMB 810 Seneca, EMB 720 Minuano, EMB 710 Carioca, and EMB 711 Corisco.

Today, the Embraer ERJ-175 is a popular model leased by Delta, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. Delta also has the Embraer E170 and ERJ-175, while American Airlines leases the Embraer ERJ-145, and ERJ-170. JetBlue has the Embraer ERJ-190 in its fleet, while Austrian Airlines has 17 of the E190s. In 2024, Mexican airline Aeromexico announced that it will use the Embraer E190 for flights from Mexico City to Tampa.

Controversy

Over the years, Embraer has been embroiled in its fair share of controversies, most notably in relation to illegal government subsidies.

Brazil vs. Canada

In the late 1990s/early 2000s, Brazil and Canada were involved in a trade dispute regarding government subsidies provided to their respective aircraft industries; namely, Canada’s Bombardier Aerospace, and Embraer. Several cases were brought to the World Trade Organization (WTO), with both countries filing complaints against each other. The WTO issued rulings against both countries. It found that Brazil’s Proex program, which subsidized Embraer, constituted illegal export subsidies, and instructed the country to withdraw them, and modify the program according to WTO regulations.

Similarly, Canada was also found to have illegally subsidized its indigenous regional airliner industry, with the WTO ruling against its assistance programs and the low-interest loans provided to Bombardier. Canada was instructed to remove these subsidies as well. Despite both parties standing their ground, Brazil eventually dropped its complaint in 2021.

Embraer and Boeing

In 2018, Embraer was set to go into a joint venture with one of its biggest rivals, Boeing. The project would have ended up with Embraer handing over 80% of its commercial aviation division, which would rebrand as Boeing Brasil – Commercial. Embraer would still keep its defense and executive business jet sectors. Word around the water cooler was that this was due to Airbus acquiring the majority stake of Bombardier’s CSeries a year earlier.

The two companies announced a new joint venture in 2019, Boeing Embraer, which aimed to promote the C-390 Millennium tactical transport aircraft. Boeing would get 49% and Embraer 51%. However, in 2020, plans for Boeing Brasil – Commercial were axed by Boeing, who stated that having to ground its 737 MAX planes due to the COVID-19 pandemic was a huge blow to its finances. Embraer was also affected by the pandemic, announcing a $121 million loss for the third quarter of 2020.

The Future of Embraer S.A.

Earlier this year, news was rampant about Embraer’s desires to rival its two competitors, Airbus and Boeing, by creating a new 737-sized jumbo jet that would compete with Airbus’s A320, and Boeing’s 737 MAX jets. Embraer humbly plays down its ambitions to take over the jumbo jet sector, saying that it has no intention of using Boeing’s recent downturn to gain leverage in the market. Boeing and Airbus’s duopoly will be hard to infiltrate; 347 airliners are using Airbus jets, and 341 are operating Boeing jets, while Embraer’s are being used by 117. However, we wouldn’t put it past Embraer’s abilities to climb to the top—or at least get very close.

For the time being, Embraer is the third-largest civil aircraft manufacturer in the world, and the top producer of regional jets. Its executive jets are in direct competition with Gulfstream, Bombardier, and Dassault Aviation. As of today, over 8,000 aircraft have been delivered by the company, and plans are always in the works for new, improved, and innovative aircraft and flight technologies.

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