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By Scott Hamilton

Nov. 25, 2024, © Leeham News: Embraer's revenues may be small compared to Airbus and Boeing.

Luis Carlos Affonso. Credit: Embraer.

But “under the hood,” the company is, in many respects, more innovative and aggressive in developing new airplanes.

Compared with Boeing, which in 2017 wanted to take over Embraer’s commercial airplane unit, Embraer is far more efficient and more dedicated to making safety and engineering the top of its culture.

Airbus hasn’t developed an all-new commercial airliner since the A350, launched in 2013. Boeing hasn’t launched an all-new airliner since the 787, launched in December 2003. Each has developed derivatives of existing products since then. Airbus launched the A330neo in 2014 and the long-range and extra-long-range versions of the A321neo. It added the Ultra-Long-Range model to the A350.

Boeing launched the 737 MAX derivative in 2011, the 747-8 in 2005, and the 777X and 787-10 in 2013.

Since 2000, Embraer developed and certified more than 20 aircraft types across its commercial, military, and executive product lines.

During the same period, Airbus launched the A320neo family in addition to those listed above. Boeing launched the KC-46A (a derivative of the 767-200ER) aerial tanker in 2011 and a few new military programs.

Credit: Embraer.

“One thing that is incredible at Embraer is the amount of new designs, new platforms that we have developed in the last 25 years. I don't know any other company that has developed so many airplanes in this time frame,” Luis Carlos Affonso, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Technological Development, said during the Embraer investors’ day on Nov. 18 in New York.