Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer vows to grasp opportunities for cooperation in flourishing Chinese aviation market.

China Daily interviewed Guan Dongyuan, senior vice-president of Embraer & president of Embraer China.

Q: How has your company benefited from China's reform and opening-up policy?

A: By June, ERJs and E-Jets made by Embraer had flown more than 550 routes and linked 150 cities in China. Each year, the jets make 210,000 flights and carry 20 million passengers to their destinations. In total, we have delivered 153 jets to the Chinese market.

In recent years, the government has issued a series of favorable policies related to the aviation industry. These include plans to increase investment in infrastructure construction, to build more commercial and general airports, to lower market entry barriers for newly established airlines, and to encourage the development of regional aviation. All these policies will bring more business opportunities for Embraer.

Q: Has competition intensified between your company and Chinese companies?

A: China has become a new leading player in the international aviation market. Today, there are many high-tech enterprises in the Chinese aviation market. In 2015, the first China-made regional jet, the ARJ21, was delivered and entered operation. In May 2017, the first large homegrown passenger jet, the C919, made its maiden flight.

At Embraer, we see potential competition arising in the future. However, the company also sees many cooperation possibilities. For example, an Embraer Legacy 650 business jet was chosen to be the chase plane to escort the first C919 prototype on its maiden flight, helping to record valuable data and information. In fact, Embraer has delivered 22 such jets in the Chinese market, gaining very positive feedback from operators and charters.

Furthermore, aircraft manufacturing is an industry that highly relies on international division of labor. There is no single manufacturer that can produce all of the key components of an aircraft by itself. In recent years, there are more Chinese aircraft component suppliers in the market and it gives international manufacturers more choice when it comes to components, such as the fuselage, gears and brakes. Embraer looks forward to cooperating with these component suppliers and offering the products that the market and passengers need.

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