China’s Hebei Airlines has received two Embraer 190 (E190) jets from Embraer.

The company is planning to buy another eight jets, subject to approval by the Chinese Government.

The E190 jets will form part of a hub network within Hebei Province and will also fly from Shijiazhuang to other provincial capitals, with more routes and frequencies.

Embraer Commercial Aviation president Paulo Cesar de Souza e Silva said: "We welcome Hebei Airlines as the latest E-Jets operator and we are honoured that the E190’s operational characteristics have attracted the attention of the leaders of the Hebei Provincial Government, which we consider to be high recognition of our products."

The E190 can seat up to 114 passengers and fly up to 2,400nm (4,450km), providing low-cost services for low and medium-volume markets.

The jet also offers better comfort, economic efficiency and performance flexibility through its double-bubble fuselage, which maximises passenger cabin space by offering wider seats and aisles.

Embraer said that the E190 jet is being used along with narrowbody aircraft to cater to seasonal passenger volume changes, to right-size fleets and to achieve cost savings.

Hebei Airlines vice-chairman Luo Zhanling said: "The introduction of these jets during the Chinese 12th-five-year period (2011-15) matches the company’s marketing strategy, and is one of our important initiatives in response to the State’s call to build China as a civil aviation powerhouse by improving the country’s regional aviation sector."

In addition, Embraer has delivered the first entry-level Phenom 100 jet, which is produced in its new US assembly plant, to Executive AirShare.