China Eastern Airlines takes delivery of its First Embraer ERJ 145 Jet

China Eastern Airlines has taken delivery of the first of five 50-seat ERJ 145s on order. Completion of deliveries to China Eastern is expected by April 2006.

Su Guoxin, President of China Eastern Airlines, said, “I am very happy to be the second customer of Harbin Embraer. Operating the ERJ 145 will further strengthen our operation by helping us meet demand of diversified routes and provide flexible air services to our passengers. The ERJ 145 will be put into service right after we accept it. Taking Nanjing as the hub, it will fly from Nanjing to cities such as Chongqing, Hohhot, Shijiazhuang and Zhengzhou. The service will play a very important role in local economic development.”

Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry (HEAI) is the joint venture established in 2003 by Embraer, the Harbin Aviation Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. and the Hafei Aviation Industry Co.. The Harbin Aviation Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. and the Hafei Aviation Industry Co. are affiliate companies of China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC II). In the same year the joint venture was established, the first aircraft was rolled out at HEAI. Between June 2004 and January 2005, HEAI delivered the first six locally produced ERJ 145s to China Southern Airlines.

Embraer’s Chinese facility produces ERJ 145 family aircraft under license and its scope of business includes final assembly, sales and after sales customer support. As of August 20, 2005, HEAI employed 174 people. Embraer’s total investment in China’s ERJ 145 program is US$ 25 million.

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