Hainan E190-E2

China’s Tianjin Airlines has placed a $1.1bn firm order with Embraer for 20 E195 and two E190-E2 aircraft.

The order makes Tianjin Airlines the first airline in China, to purchase the E-Jets E2 airliners.

In July 2014, the two companies signed a deal for 40 aircraft during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Brazil.

The remaining aircraft under the deal will be part of a second transaction.

Embraer Commercial Aviation president and CEO Paulo Cesar Silva said: "China is growing very fast and there is a need for smaller narrow-body jets to support efficient hub and spoke operations, complementing larger narrow-body aircraft operations, thus providing an ideal balance of frequency and seats, encouraging the development of new markets with lower risks and incremental capacity, while generating significant demand for new aircraft in this category."

"As the number of passengers is growing in China, these E195s will be very important to support Tianjin Airlines’ strategy to attend this demand."

The company plans to deliver the first E195 later this year, while the first E190-E2 is scheduled for delivery in 2018.

Embraer will incorporate this order under its 2015 second-quarter backlog.

Tianjin Airlines, which is currently the largest operator of E-Jets in Asia with 50 E190s, was the launch customer for the E190 in China. The airline is an authorised service provider for Embraer aircraft in the country.

Tianjin Airlines chairman Du Xiaoping said: "As the number of passengers is growing in China, these E195s will be very important to support Tianjin Airlines’ strategy to attend this demand.

"We are very satisfied with the E190s that are currently in operation and are sure that the new airplanes will allow us to achieve our development objectives."


Image: Embraer plans to deliver the first E190-E2 to Tianjin Airlines in 2018. Photo: courtesy of Embraer S.A.