Caixin

Embraer Pitches E2 Jets as China Airlines Weigh Smaller Aircraft

Published: Jun. 13, 2026  12:08 a.m.  GMT+8
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An Embraer E195-E2 aircraft is parked at the company's headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil, on June 9, 2026. Photo: VCG
An Embraer E195-E2 aircraft is parked at the company's headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil, on June 9, 2026. Photo: VCG

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer S.A. is pitching its new-generation E2 passenger jets to Chinese airlines to fill a capacity gap between two homegrown passenger planes produced by Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd. (COMAC) Arjan Meijer, president and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, told Caixin that the E2 aircraft line offers an optimal seating capacity that acts as a natural complement to COMAC’s smaller C909 and larger C919 models.

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  • Embraer pitches E2 jets (97-146 seats) to fill gap between COMAC’s C909 (78-97) and C919 (158-192).
  • Embraer has 1.6% of China’s commercial fleet; no new deliveries since 2018; faces competition from Airbus (55%), Boeing (37.8%), and high-speed rail.
  • Some Chinese airlines shift from Embraer; Colorful Guizhou Airlines plans to lease five COMAC C909s.
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Who’s Who
Embraer S.A.
Embraer S.A. is pitching its E2 jets to Chinese airlines as a complement between COMAC's smaller C909 and larger C919. The E190-E2 (97-114 seats) and E195-E2 (120-146 seats) received Chinese certification in 2022/2023. However, Embraer holds only 1.6% of China's commercial fleet (67 jets) and hasn't delivered since 2018.
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What Happened When
2018:
Embraer last delivered a new aircraft to a Chinese airline.
2022:
E190-E2 received Chinese regulatory certification.
2023:
E195-E2 received Chinese regulatory certification.
Early June 2026:
Colorful Guizhou Airlines announced plans to sell two older Embraer E190 jets.
Days after early June 2026:
Colorful Guizhou Airlines issued a tender to lease five COMAC C909s.
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