Air Transport

Embraer has launched an executive version of the E-190 regional jet into a growing market for large-cabin aircraft, particularly in Russia and India. The Lineage 1000 competes head-on with the Airbus A318 Elite, but will also vie for customers with large-cabin, long-range business jets from Bombardier and Gulfstream.

Priced at $41 million, the Lineage 1000 will carry eight passengers 7,770km (4,200nm) with a maximum speed of Mach 0.82 and ceiling of 41,000ft (12,500m). Extra fuel tanks and an increase in maximum take-off weight require certification, but the “low-risk” aircraft will enter service in mid-2008, says Louis Carlos Affonso, senior vice-president executive jets.

Embraer will offer three VIP/VVIP interior designs as standard options. These will provide five cabin zones, up to three lavatories and a shower, crew rest area and a large baggage compartment. “We are still deciding whether to do the interior in-house or with a partner,” says Affonso.

While launching the Lineage 1000, for which sales of three to four aircraft a year are expected, Embraer has pushed back a decision on its next all-new business jets. “We will take some more time to mature the designs,” says Affonso.

Targeting the same large-cabin market, Airbus hopes to sell five to 10 A318 Elites a year in addition to eight to 12 A319-based Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ), says vice-president Richard Gaona. Completed by Lufthansa Technik using standardised interiors, the Elite costs $45 million, compared with around $60 million for the ACJ.

Airbus has sold 13 Elites, with first delivery due in December. The aircraft will carry eight passengers 7,600km when fitted with one auxiliary fuel tank, compared with the ACJ’s 11,100km with five extra tanks.

Boeing Business Jets has a corporate version of the 737-600 with standardised interior on the drawing board, but demand for the BBJ exceeds availability “so we are looking at the high end”, says president Steven Hill. Instead, the company hopes to launch a combi version based on the 737-700C as the next member of the family.

One 737-700C, with side cargo door, has been sold to a private customer, and Boeing has committed to certificate the aircraft with the BBJ’s six extra fuel tanks. “We sold the aircraft with an obligation to increase range. It is a natural progression to certificate it as the BBJ C,” says Hill. “We are studying market interest.”

The first sale of a 737-900ER-based BBJ 3 is “in the works”, says Hill. The stretched aircraft is aimed at the Middle East, and trades range for cargo space. The BBJ C’s range is similar to that of the basic 737-700-based BBJ. The private 737-700C is to be delivered in mid-2007, and the first BBJ C slot available is in 2008, he says.