Embraer announces the sale of ten Embraer 190 to China’s Hebei Airlines
The new jets will be used to boost the economic development and support air transportation growth in Hebei Province . São José dos Campos, April 12, 2011 – Embraer and China’s Hebei Airlines Co., Ltd. inked an order for ten EMBRAER 190 earlier today at a signing ceremony held in Beijing, P.R. China. The first delivery of these ten jets is scheduled for September 2012.
To meet the growing demand for air transportation as a consequence of the region rapid economic development in recent years, Hebei Provincial Government is giving top priority to aviation expansion. In June 2010, with strong support from the provincial government, Hebei Airlines was inaugurated as a holding company of Hebei Aviation Investment Group, a leading state-owned company. Currently, Hebei Airlines operates six aircraft, including two Embraer ERJ 145. The EMBRAER 190 will help the airline support its near-term expansion.
“We are delighted to welcome Hebei Airlines as our newest E-Jets operator. The current Chinese fleet of Embraer aircraft will soon reach 100 airplanes and this deal emphasizes Chinese operators’ confidence and recognition in our products,” said Paulo César de Souza e Silva, Embraer Executive Vice President, Airline Market. “EMBRAER 190 is a worldwide success with outstanding economics, performance and comfort. We believe our aircraft will play an important role in Hebei Airlines’ market development.”
“Thanks to the correct guidance and strong support from the Hebei Provincial Party Committee and Government, Hebei Airlines has introduced ten EMBRAER 190s to expand its regional aircraft fleet and will also take positive actions to make the deal for another five aircraft come true. This deal enables us to leap forward for future development, which we believe will play an active role in economic, political and culture development for Hebei province,” said Wang Sheping, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Hebei Airlines. “We will take this cooperation with Embraer as the turning point for further strengthening partnership for a win-win development at all levels and in all-round aspects.”
EMBRAER 190 is the third of four members of Embraer’s E-Jets family, which have achieved outstanding success, with nearly 1,000 firm orders and over 700 jets in operation, worldwide. EMBRAER 190 allows flexible operations with a range of 4,225 km (2,300 nautical miles), including providing low-cost services for low and medium-volume markets on slim point-to-point routes; using the aircraft along with larger mainline aircrafts in accordance with seasonal or periodical passenger volume changes to rightsizing their fleet; or using them to develop new routes, cultivate new markets etc. Comfort is the hallmark of the EMBRAER 190. Its double-bubble fuselage maximizes passenger space in the cabin with the widest seats and aisle among aircraft in its class. No-middle-seat configuration and optional advanced in-flight entertainment system also contributes passenger comfort.
With this new order, Embraer has a firm order of 135 aircraft in China market, including 85 EMBRAER 190s, 46 ERJ 145s and four executive jets. To date, more than 80 Embraer aircraft are in service in this market.
About Hebei Airlines Co., Ltd.
Approved by CAAC, Hebei Airlines Co., Ltd, (Hebei Airlines) is a modernized airlines, whose majority stock shares are absolutely held by Hebei Aviation Investment Group while Sichuan Airlines Group and Shenyang Zhongrui Company are also holding shares in the name of partnership. Being a core affiliate to Hebei Aviation Investment Group, Hebei Airlines, based in Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport, puts its focuses mainly on air transport of passengers, cargoes and mails, and partially on general aviation business and other services associated with air transport.
Hebei Airlines firmly carries out the national strategy of becoming a nation with strong civil aviation industry and gives active response to the call of developing regional aviation business for civil aviation. The company strictly follows the strategy of “Getting Started with regional aviation, integrating regional with mainline, getting support from the government and complemented by ground operations”, and adheres to its commitment of being “safe and efficient, credibility-focused, customer-oriented and excellence-pursuing”. In its earlier stage, the company focuses on regional flights within Hebei province and neighboring cities that can be reached by air in 1-2 hours, through which, the company will establish four networks, namely intra-provincial hub, regional net, Beijing sub-hub and “Bohai-rim express”. Along with its business growth, the company will progress towards an integrated airlines specialized in both mainline and regional business and serves both downtown and countryside by increasing mainline flights, exploiting international routes and improving its network development. Its fleet will expand to 20 aircraft at the end of the “12th Five-Year-Plan”, carrying more than 3 million passengers per year.
Hebei Airlines began its operations on June 29, 2010. The company now operates a fleet of six aircraft, including two ERJ 145s, which are operated under wet lease agreement with Xiamen Airlines. Its network connects to some medium and large-sized cities, including Shanghai (Hongqiao), Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Nanchang, Haikou, Huhhot, Sanya, Zhuhai, Wenzhou, Ningbo, Dalian, Qinghuangdao, Tangshan and Handan etc.
Source: Embraer
