Embraer Expects Flood Of RJ Orders From U.S. Carriers

Expected changes to AMR Corp.’s scope clause provision with its American Airlines pilots should result in large orders from U.S. carriers, says Paulo Caesar Silva, Embraer’s president for Commercial Aviation. There is “huge opportunity that we see now in the U.S. market,” Silva says, adding, “We estimate that in the next few years there will be 400-500 aircraft that will have to be acquired by these major airlines in the United States.” American will place “a huge order” in the next year, Silva says, noting “this will be the driver” for others, including Delta Air Lines—which is ridding its regional feed of many 50-seat jets—to seek more regional jets in the 70-plus size range, which includes Embraer’s E-175 airframe ...