Embraer enjoys a strong start to 2026 with 44 new aircraft deliveries in the first quarter
April 7, 2026
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has revealed an impressive year-on-year improvement across the company’s commercial and executive aviation sectors in its first-quarter financial reports. Its defence lines showed a slight improvement over the same period in 2025.
Embraer deliveries up 47% over the same period in 2025
In an announcement released on 3 April, Embraer said it delivered 44 new aircraft in 1Q26, a figure representing a 47% increase over the 30 units handed over to customers in the same period in 2025.
The figures reveal that the planemaker saw improvements across its product range, with its commercial, executive and defence product lines all delivering more aircraft than the same period the year previously.
The company’s commercial aircraft division accounted for ten of the 47 new deliveries in 1Q26. This figure comprised six E175s, one E190-E2 and three E195-E2 regional jets. This figure compares favourably to 1Q25, when the company delivered seven aircraft to customers.
On the executive aviation front, the company delivered 29 new business jets in 1Q26, an increase of 26% over the 23 units delivered in 1Q25. This figure included one Phenom 100 and 15 Phenom 300 light jets, as well as nine Praetor 500 and four Praetor 600 midsize jets, totalling 29 aircraft overall.
Across its defence division, Embraer delivered five new aircraft, which included one KC-390 Millennium multi-role transporter plus four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, including two for Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya (Uruguayan Air Force). This is a marked improvement over 1Q25, when no deliveries were recorded to defence customers.
Embraer speeds up aircraft deliveries across all business sectors
Embraer attributed the quarter’s strong performance to “production levelling initiatives”, which have been introduced to level out manufacturing capabilities and deliveries throughout the calendar year.
Traditionally, the leading manufacturers have accelerated production to reach delivery targets by the end of the year. However, this approach has backloaded pressure on production lines at the end of the calendar year, as deadlines loom.
While first-quarter delivery figures tend to be the lowest of the year, Embraer is aiming to rebalance its production rates so that there is less of a final year-end push.
In the final quarter of 2025 alone, Embraer delivered 91 aircraft, including 32 commercial jets, 53 executive jets and six defence platforms, highlighting the traditional year-end surge in output. For the full year, the company delivered 244 aircraft, up 19% from 206 in 2024.
For 2026, Embraer is targeting deliveries of 80 to 85 commercial aircraft and 160 to 170 executive jets, implying a total of up to 255 aircraft, excluding defence.
With 44 aircraft already delivered in the first quarter, the company appears broadly on track to meet those targets, according to analysts.
Embraer on course to enjoy a record-breaking year
Embraer’s full-year financial outlook for 2026 stated that the company is targeting consolidated revenues of $8.2 billion to $8.5 billion, an adjusted EBIT margin of 8.7% to 9.3% and free cash flow of $200 million or more, excluding its electric vertical take-off/landing (eVTOL) subsidiary Eve Air Mobility.
The company began 2026 with the largest order backlog in its history, with outstanding orders worth $31.6 billion at list prices.
While the company continues to see interest in the KC-390 Millennium from various European and other states worldwide, its popular E195-E2 single-aisle regional jet continues to draw orders from around the globe.
In March, Finland’s national carrier Finnair ordered 46 of the type to allow for expansion of the carrier’s European regional network in the coming years.
Deliveries of the 134-seat E195-E2 aircraft are scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2027, with three of the firm orders to be delivered in 2027, six to be delivered in 2028 and another six in 2029. The E195-E2s are planned to be operated by Finnair’s partner Norra. Norra operates regional traffic for Finnair with a mix of Embraer and ATR aircraft.
New opportunities continue to be explored by Embraer
Additionally, in February, India’s Adani Defence & Aerospace and Embraer announced that they had taken a more concrete step towards establishing a Final Assembly Line (FAL) in India for the E175 regional jet, in a move that could reshape the country’s civil aviation manufacturing ambitions.
What began in January as a deal to explore opportunities between the companies in India has now evolved into a defined roadmap centred on India’s proposed Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) programme.
At its heart is the E175, Embraer’s established 80-seat regional jet that Embraer believes is ideally placed to serve India’s rapidly expanding network of regional routes.
Featured image: Embraer
