The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Embraer, displayed its latest 100-seat passenger jet, the 190, to a crowd of aviation industry experts and the press last week, as part of its four-month world demonstration tour.
The purpose-painted jet, that is part of a four-type family of next-generation aircraft that can seat 70 to 120 passengers, took off from Larnaca airport and landed in Paphos moments later before making its way back later in the day, as part of a demonstration organized by the Honorary Consulate of Brazil in Cyprus.
Mathieu Duquesnoy, Sales Director of Embraer Europe, told the Financial Mirror that “the Cyprus market is growing and there could be opportunities for us.”
He said that Egyptair has ordered six, Saudi Airlines is already operating the 190 on its domestic flights and Royal Jordanian should take delivery of its first aircraft by the end of 2006.
“It’s all about right sizing, not just small aircraft for short routes,” Duquesnoy said, adding that Air Canada is using the Embraer 190 on its 5-hour flights to Phoenix, Arizona.
The 190 has a price tag of about USD 31 mln and comes with a basic configuration of 100 single-class seats in rows of four or 93 seats in a combination of executive (9 seats) and economy (84 seats). The flying range is 3,500 kms and the aircraft comes with sophisticated on-board facilities, individual seat-back video displays and ample baggage space.
The family ranges from the 70-seat 170 and the 80-seat 175 to the top-of-the-range 122-seat 195.
“So far we are on target to match the 2005 sales figure of USD 3,83 bln, with first half 2006 sales already reaching USD 1,83 bln,” Duquesnoy said.
As regards civil or military configurations, he said “we are talking to everybody”.
In the executive jet range, the 190 is rebranded as the Lineage which has the same platform but has been fitted with a business interior. “This is a growing market for us,” he said.
Honorary Consul Garo Keheyan told the Financial Mirror, “We are very active in developing and promoting bilateral relations between Cyprus and Brazil.”
He said that trade statistics show that from USD 10 mln a few years ago bilateral trade has grown to USD 200 mln this year, primarily due to a deal involving Petrobras that supplies the EAC with fuel oil.
Keheyan said that there were lots of imports in the foodstuff sector, and that a Brazilian beer brand called Brama should be in the market very soon. It will be served throughout the Brazilian Culture month, he said.
The festival will include film shows, art exhibitions, dance and music and is the biggest cultural event of its type held in Cyprus in recent years.
On Thursday, Ambassador of Brazil, Sergio Moreira Lima, will give a lecture on “Challenges and Opportunities in National and International Affairs – A Brazilian Case Study” at the University of Cyprus main auditorium, Nicosia, 7.30pm.
