Page 6 - World Airnews Magazine February Edition 2021

FEATURE

EMBRAER AND AFRICA

E190-E2 and E195-E2 have been originally lower compared to the mature markets like
designed to bridge the gap between Europe or USA. It is unsustainable, but still,

mbraer is the second most popular traditional regional jets and traditional many African airlines were deciding to opt

Eaircraft brand in Africa and it’s no narrow-bodies - sometimes we refer to for the larger narrow-bodies.

wonder. As we face 2021, World Airnews them as “cross-overs.” Some of them trusted that the fast-grow-
had a chance to chat to the new vice In last few decades, the 100-150 seats ing demand would eventually catch-up with
president, Europe, Middle east and Africa segment has been underdeveloped globally, the capacity, whilst others simply co-

commercial aviation Cesar Pereira. and its relevance will surely grow in a post- py-pasted the fleet strategies of the Middle

Eastern or Gulf carriers without adapting it
WAN : YOUR AIRCRAFT ARE WELL Covid environment. I believe, however, that to the local realities - and it has to be said:

in Africa it will gain particular relevance.

KNOWN IN SOUTHERN AFRICA This region has historically seen a mismatch the A320s and B737s were designed to
ALL THE WAY ACROSS AND TO between capacity (seats supply) and passen- serve the sweet-spot of the most mature
THE TOP OF AFRICA. WHICH IS ger demand, leading to unsustainably low global aviation markets and not the emerg-

THE BEST-SELLING MODEL ON THE load factors. When you combine this with ing markets like Africa. Whatever was the
CONTINENT AND WHY? IF THERE further, Covid-related, demand suppression, rationale, it cannot be carried over to the

IS MORE THAN ONE SPECIFIC TYPE the structural changes to African carriers’ post-Covid reality.
PLEASE INCLUDE. fleets become essential. Another driver that we focus on in the

CP: That’s correct, Africa is a region where The new sweet-spot for the region will context of Africa is rebuilding the connec-

we have been very successful. Embraer is be somewhere around 120 seats. For many tivity. By now, it might sound like a cliché,
the second most popular aircraft brand on airlines across the continent, this means but it doesn’t make it any less accurate.

the continent. that our products can now become the Connectivity is essential to unlocking the

We have first built our presence in Africa core of their fleets, rather than simply sup- flow of passengers and goods, which is

with our ERJ family of 40-50 seaters. As of plement to the narrow-body operations. essential to stimulate the economy, which

today, it is still the most popular type with It gives them a chance to streamline their in turn further stimulates the traffic, and so

more than 100 units flying across the region. operations around one family of the right- on and on. This virtuous circle is what the

When it comes to new transactions, for sized aircraft with unmatched economics. continent needs to recover from the crisis.

several years now they have been domi- In other words, it’s a chance to bring profit- At Embraer, we analysed it many times.

nated by the “E-Jets” - our family of bigger ability back into the system. There is no better way to build connectivity

regional jets where we have more than WAN: IN YOUR RECENT OUTLOOK - and efficiently stimulate traffic other than
60 units with 10 operators - or the latest YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED EMERGING opening new markets and/or providing

generation E2s, where we have recently TRENDS THAT WILL INFLUENCE high frequency, convenient services. In the
secured two new customers for this brand- GROWTH AND FLEETS. THERE suppressed demand environment, it can

new technology aircraft. ARE FOUR MAIN DRIVERS TO be done only with the smaller aircraft. And

with that, we go back to the right-sizing
WAN: WHAT OTHER MODELS ARE THIS NAMELY FLEET RIGHT- argument.
BEST SUITED FOR OUR MARKETS SIZING / REGIONALISATION /
AND WHY? PLEASE PROVIDE PASSENGER BEHAVIOUR AND WAN: YOU HAVE ESTIMATED 100
SPECIFIC REASONS FOR EACH ONE? ENVIRONMENT. HOW DO YOU UP TO 150-SEATER JETS, 80 TURBO
PROPS AND 110 NARROW BODIES
CP: There is no single answer to this SEE THIS PLAYING OUT ACROSS - OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS. WHAT
AFRICAN MARKETS?
question. It always depends on the specific HAS INFORMED YOUR PROJECTION?

requirements of an individual customer. CP: Among those four, right-sizing is the AND WHICH REGION (IF THERE IS
However, I would say that it is the bigger most relevant for African markets. As I just ONLY ONE) WILL TAKE THE MOST?

end of our product range that looks mentioned, the average load factor across

particularly interesting for African markets. the region is up to 20 percentage points CP: There are three things I would like to
World Airnews | February 2021
— 4 —