Leeham News and Analysis
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Consultant Presses Embraer To Confirm Large Bizjet Plans
Oct. 21, 2025, © Leeham News: From our partners at AIN:
Embraer Executive Jets leader said company will take its time before taking its next step
October 16, 2025
Embraer this week reaffirmed that it is actively studying the case for entering the large-cabin business jet market. Speaking at its investors day event at the New York Stock Exchange, a leading consultant urged Embraer Executive Jets president and CEO Michael Amalfitano to confirm whether his group will step up to compete with Gulfstream, Bombardier, and Dassault, and he didn’t rule out the move.
Embraer hasn’t produce the large cabin Lineage 1000 business aircraft for almost five years, but it is now contemplating a return to the heavy jet segment. Credit: AIN.
Dean Roberts, v-p for strategy, sustainability, and development with Rolland Vincent Associates, argued that the time is right for the Brazilian manufacturer to expand its portfolio beyond its Phenom and Praetor family of light and midsize jets. In his view, its U.S., Canadian, and French rivals aren’t fully addressing the market.
The case for Embraer to invest in the development of a business jet at the top end of the sector has to compete with the aerospace and defense group’s ongoing ambitions to directly challenge Airbus and Boeing in the race to dominate the next generation narrowbody airliner market.
The full story may be found here.
Air New Zealand Starts Trials With Beta’s CX300 Electric Aircraft
By Charles Alcock • Managing Editor
October 20, 2025
Air New Zealand has begun a series of test flights with Beta Technologies’ Alia CX300 electric aircraft. On October 17, the carrier flew the six-seater on an initial flight from Tauranga Airport before flying it 43 nm to Hamilton Airport where it will be based until December when it is due to relocate to Wellington International Airport.
The U.S. manufacturer is leasing the aircraft to Air New Zealand so that it can be evaluated as part of the Star Alliance operator’s Next Generation Aircraft program. In December 2024, the airline confirmed an earlier agreement to buy up to 23 Alia CX300s, saying that it aimed to be ready to launch commercial cargo operations in 2026.
The full story may be found here.
Korean Air Partners With eVTOL Aircraft Developer Archer
By Charles Alcock • Managing Editor
October 20, 2025
Korean Air plans to operate up to 100 of Archer Aviation’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft and has begun a partnership with the manufacturer to launch commercial services. Under an agreement announced on October 20, the companies said they are now exploring multiple use cases for the vehicle, which could includes government applications.
According to Archer, the partnership covers exclusive arrangements to operate the four-passenger Midnight in South Korea. In October 2023, Korean Air signed a strategic partnership with Hyundai-backed Supernal, but it remains unclear what progress it is making with its plans for an eVTOL aircraft. Joby Aviation and Eve Air Mobility also have Korean partnerships in place.
The full story may be found here.
VoltAero Seeks Funds for Cassio after Investor Backs Out
By Charlotte Bailey • Writer
October 16, 2025
VoltAero is battling to keep its plans for a family of hybrid-electric aircraft alive as it urgently seeks new investment in the face of French insolvency proceedings. The company this week confirmed that around €5 million ($5.8 million) in equity capital promised by France’s ACI Group is now stalled as that company faces its own funding crisis.
Through a filing with the commercial court at La Rochelle in western France on October 7, VoltAero has initiated “a formal redress procedure” to address possible claims by creditors while it seeks to secure new funding. The company has indicated that it might expedite plans to establish a U.S.-based subsidiary, even though it has its headquarters in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region where it employs 35 people.
The full story may be found here.
I’d prefer to see Embraer enter the mainline narrowbody market — possibly in cooperation with India — to alleviate the long waiting times for narrowbodies, and to provide more geographically-distributed supply.
Just as I welcome RR’s intentions to enter the narrowbody engine market, for similar reasons. In addition to RR, I also think there’s plenty of market share for a purely-EU engine offering in the NB segment — the CFM construct is commercially satisfactory but exposes Europe to too much geopolitical whim.
Embraer would probably be (very) interested in such alternative engine offerings.