Embraer’s latest market forecast for China predicts that the country will need 1,445 aircraft that seat up to 150 passengers through 2040, reflecting the importance the Chinese government has placed on developing infrastructure to serve secondary markets. The forecast, released Tuesday at the 13th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, notes that 77 percent of those aircraft will fulfill market growth while the rest will replace aging equipment.

“During the pandemic, small and medium-sized aircraft and regional flights were instrumental in the quick recovery of connectivity in China,” said Embraer China managing director Guo Qing. “Our E-Jets were among the first aircraft types to restore flight frequencies across airline networks. In the post-epidemic era, building a more efficient air transport system is of vital importance. The market calls for a more balanced fleet profile and route network structure to serve more secondary markets.”

The Chinese government recently announced a series of infrastructure developments that includes around 200 new airports to encourage and promote industrial relocation. The importance of regional aircraft continues to increase after Covid-19, according to Embraer, playing a key role in launching new services to these airports and developing demand. Ninety-one E-Jets now operate in China, flying some 20 million passengers annually on 550 routes and connecting 150 cities at home and abroad.

“China civil aviation passenger revenue kilometers (RPKs) will enjoy a 4.7 percent CAGR growth through the decade, signaling China’s lead in the aviation recovery,” said Embraer Commercial Aviation CEO Arjan Meijer. “We believe the Chinese aviation market will become the world’s largest in the future. Embraer has already built a strong and positive presence on the market providing a solid foundation for our most advanced jet, the E2.”

Meanwhile, as China pledges to speed emissions reductions to reach carbon neutrality by 2060, a series of policy initiatives proposed by the country’s civil aviation authority includes the deployment of new-generation aircraft to improve efficiency. According to Embraer, its latest generation E-Jets, the E2s, can deliver 25.4 percent better fuel efficiency per seat and up to 10 percent better fuel burn than its competitors. Embraer recently announced a target to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040 and to support the aviation industry’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“Sustainability is a top priority at Embraer across the board, and especially when it comes to new product design," added Guo Qing. The E2 emits 30 percent less carbon than Embraer’s first-generation E-Jets, equating to 3,700 fewer kilograms of CO₂ per flight and a reduction of 1 million tons of CO₂ in 10 years for a fleet of 10 aircraft, according to the company’s calculations.