60 per cent of Embraer's Asian sales to emerge from China

Singapore: Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica SA, (Embraer) the world's fourth-largest aircraft maker, expects 60 per cent of Asia Pacific sales, over the next two decades, to emerge from China. In an interview, Frederico Fleury Curado, executive vice president for commercial aircraft sales said that the company expects to sell more than 600 planes in the country over the next 20 years. Embraer has a venture in China to assemble 50-seat regional aircraft.

Embraer has been investing in Asia to diversify its revenue sources, which traditionally has been concentrated in North America and Europe. Embraer has a firm order backlog for 130 aircraft in the region.

Curado has been Embraer's executive vice president for almost a decade, and is set to take the helm as chief executive officer of the Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil-based company this month.

The company's customers include Indian carrier, Paramount Airways Pvt, Hong Kong Express Airways Ltd, the Taiwanese Mandarin Airlines, China's HNA Group and Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd, Australia's second-biggest airline, which this week ordered six more Embraer aircraft.

Recently Embraer won a 10-plane order from Japan Airlines Corp, Asia's largest carrier by sales.