It will not have come as a huge surprise to many, but Embraer has confirmed that it has further postponed the development of the E175-E2. The smallest member of the E2-family, which has failed to attract a single order, is now scheduled to enter service “between 2027 and 2028”, Embraer says in a filing on February 18. Embraer E175-E2 further delayed until 2027.
Embraer’s Board of Directors has approved the three-year pause. It quotes the US scope clause as the main reason for the delay. “As in previous years, the re-programming of activities is associated with the ongoing US mainline scope clause discussions with the pilot unions regarding the maximum take-off weight (MTOW) limitation for aircraft for up to 76 seats, together with the current global market conditions for commercial aviation and the continuing interest in the current E175 jet in the US market.”
Back in August 2020, Embraer delayed the first delivery of the E175-E2 by one year until 2023, “given the current market conditions for commercial aviation as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.” But scope clause has been an issue since the launch of the program at the 2013 Paris Airshow. Like Mitsubishi, Embraer had been hoping for a long time that US regional airlines and pilot unions would solve the dispute. Scope clause limits the use of regional aircraft with an MTOW of up to 86.000 pounds/39.000 kilograms. The E175-E2 comes at 98.120 pounds/44.600 kilograms. The Mitsubishi SpaceJet M90 is listed with an MTOW of 94.358 pounds/42.800 kilograms, with the 76-seater M100 for the US market exactly meeting the scope clause.
Without a final resolution to the issue, Mitsubishi has lost its key market and has paused the program until further notice, but a resumption seems most unlikely. The same faith is now expected for the E175-E2. The lighter E175 continues to rack up sales, like an order for three by American Airlines’’ regional partner Envoy Air earlier this week. US regional carriers now have ordered over 600 E175s. The E195-E2 is Embraer’s best-selling model right now, clinching an order for twenty from lessor Azorra in January.
The E175-E2, which made its first flight on December 12, 2019, has still not been certified. Development of its engines, the Pratt & Whitney PW1700G, has been paused for three years as well, MTU Aero Engines said on its Capital Markets Day in November.
With the launch of the 70 to 90 seater turboprop expected later this year or early 2023, Embraer is developing a new aircraft that would easily eat into the E175-E2’s market. Vice President of Marketing and Product Development, Rodrigo Silva e Souza, told AirInsight in August ast year that these are two totally different aircraft that could co-exist alongside each other, but the turboprop could offer unmatched economics that makes the turbofan aircraft even less attractive. Keep in mind that Embraer hopes to enter the turboprop into service in 2027-2028, exactly the same timeframe it now sees for the E175-E2.
Active as a journalist since 1987, with a background in newspapers, magazines, and a regional news station, Richard has been covering commercial aviation on a freelance basis since late 2016.
Richard is contributing to AirInsight since December 2018. He also writes for Airliner World, Aviation News, Piloot & Vliegtuig, and Luchtvaartnieuws Magazine. Twitter: @rschuur_aero.
