Praetor 500 milestone: Embraer delivers its 2,000th business jet
August 28, 2025
Embraer has reached a significant milestone in its executive aviation division with the delivery of its 2,000th business jet. The aircraft, a Praetor 500, was handed over to an undisclosed corporate flight department during a ceremony at the company’s Global Customer Centre in Melbourne, Florida.
“Delivering our 2,000th business jet is more than just a milestone number. It is a powerful reflection of the strength of our product portfolio, our unwavering commitment to our customers and the dedication of our employees who take pride in building every aircraft,” said Michael Amalfitano, President & CEO of Embraer Executive Jets. “This milestone cements Embraer’s position as a global leader in business aviation and serves as a testament to the popularity of our Praetor family of jets.”
Growth of the Embraer Praetor family
With a range of 3,340 nautical miles (6,186 km) carrying four passengers under NBAA IFR reserves, the Praetor 500 mid-size business jet offers truly transcontinental performance. It is capable of non-stop flights from Miami to Seattle or Los Angeles to New York.
The Praetor 500 and its larger sibling, the Praetor 600, have gained popularity among corporate flight departments for their combination of midsize cabin economics and technology features more often associated with larger jets. Both aircraft incorporate full fly-by-wire flight controls with active turbulence reduction, offering short-runway performance and providing operators with access to more airports and destinations worldwide.
Embraer boasts that the Praetor 500 is “the most disruptive and technologically advanced business jet in its class.”
The Praetor 600 has garnered attention in the competitive super midsize segment, boasting a range of 4,018 nautical miles that surpasses its rivals, including the Bombardier Challenger 3500 (3,400 nm), Cessna Citation Longitude (3,500 nm), and Gulfstream G280 (3,600 nm).
Executive jet milestone follows Embraer’s record-setting second quarter
The milestone delivery comes as Embraer reported a strong second quarter. The planemaker delivered 61 aircraft, representing a 30% year-over-year increase, and achieved a record firm order backlog of $29.7 billion—growing by over $3 billion since the previous quarter. This record backlog was driven by significant demand across its commercial, executive, and defence aviation segments, with the executive aviation division particularly strong.
Embraer executive aviation building momentum
Embraer’s executive aviation saw a 41% year-on-year increase in jet deliveries and a 62% jump in its order backlog, which reached $7.4 billion. Its deliveries of 17 Praetor midsize jets in the quarter alone represented more than double the seven units delivered the previous year.
A key driver of this momentum is the rising demand for super midsize jets, which is considered a “sweet spot” of the market by many operators. Flexjet, for example, signed a landmark $7 billion deal earlier this year that includes 182 Praetor aircraft, with options for 30 more, as well as an enhanced services and support agreement.
Since its first executive jet delivery in 2002, Embraer’s executive aviation unit has grown at an average annual compound rate of 14%. In 2024, Embraer’s Phenom and Praetor aircraft accounted for nearly one-third of small and midsize cabin jets delivered worldwide.
