It has been a long time since the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer took a new turboprop aircraft into the air. To be precise: On July 27, 1983, the Embraer 120, which was once the backbone of many regional fleets, took off for the first time. Production was stopped in 2007. If everything goes according to plan, the launch of a newly developed turboprop model should take place next year.

On the sidelines of the handover ceremony of the first Embraer 195-E2 to Helvetic Airways, the commercial aviation boss of the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Arjan Meijer, said that the launch of the new turboprop aircraft is expected in the course of 2022. Delivery to the first customer is targeted for the year 2027.

The design of the machine will be reminiscent of the Embraer 120, but it is a completely newly developed aircraft that will compete with the ATR72 and the Dash 8-400. The plan is to offer two variants: around 70 seats and around 90 seats. The fuel consumption should be well below the E2 regional jets. Embraer expects about 20 percent less fuel burn.

The turboprop aircraft market is currently very difficult. At ATR, sales of the ATR42 / 72 models are stalling and DHC even had to announce the temporary cessation of production of the Dash 8-400. Thus Embraer is entering a difficult environment, but there could be potential for a completely new development, because the competing models are getting on in years with regard to the construction.