​Brazilian planemaker Embraer says it delivered 44 aircraft in the third quarter of 2019, including its first new flagship E195-E2, to launch customer Azul, bringing total deliveries in 2019 to 117 aircraft.

Brazilian planemaker Embraer says it delivered 44 aircraft in the third quarter of 2019, including its first new flagship E195-E2, to launch customer Azul, bringing total deliveries in 2019 to 117 aircraft.

Of the 44 aircraft, 17 were commercial jets and 27 were executive jets, Embraer says in a statement on 31 October. The company’s backlog at the end of the quarter was $16.2 billion.

The airframer delivered its first E195-E2, the second E2 variant to hit the market, to launch customer Azul during the quarter. Azul has placed an order for 51 aircraft of this type and will receive five more by the end of the year.

Also during the third quarter, SkyWest Airlines ordered seven E175 regional jets for operation with Delta Air Lines, in a 70-seat configuration, Embraer adds. Deliveries are expected to commence before the end of 2019.

In the executive jets segment, Flexjet affirmed its commitment to its long-term supplier at this year’s NBAA business jet show in mid-October, by placing a $1.4 billion order for 64 Phenom 300Es, Praetor 500 and 600 business jets.

The deal clears the way for Flexjet to become the fleet launch customer for the midsize-category Praetor pair, which were launched at NBAA a year ago. Deliveries are set to start in early November with the handover of the first Praetor 500. The Praetor 500 received regulatory certification from Brazil’s ANAC, the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency EASA.

Embraer adds that it delivered a Praetor 600 to its first Brazilian customer during the quarter.