Embraer CEO Says Global Jet Market Has Room for More Boeing and Airbus Rivals

Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto has once again ruled out plans to launch a new commercial jet to compete head-on with the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 — but he suggested the market could easily support more players.

In an interview with the Financial Times at Embraer’s headquarters in Brazil, Gomes Neto said the narrowbody aircraft segment could sustain “three or four” major manufacturers in the coming decades.

Boeing and Airbus still control the narrowbody segment, but new entrants like China’s COMAC are beginning to challenge their duopoly. A fourth contender with the strongest credentials, analysts say, could be Embraer itself.

The executive noted that global demand for around 40,000 narrowbody aircraft over the next 20 years could open the door for new entrants. “Airlines are looking for more options,” he said, though he cautioned that interest does not yet mean immediate orders.

Embraer—the world’s third-largest aircraft manufacturer—remains the leader in regional jets, especially in the U.S. market. In Brazil, Azul, GOL, and LATAM rely heavily on Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 fleets, but the E195-E2 is gaining ground: the Chilean carrier recently placed an order for 24 aircraft.

Gomes Neto said Embraer continues to study options for next-generation commercial and executive jets, though any move into the narrowbody market is unlikely before the next decade. For now, the focus remains on expanding sales of existing models.

Beyond commercial aviation, the CEO highlighted efforts to grow military exports—particularly the KC-390 Millennium—and to pursue opportunities in markets such as India. Embraer is also exploring local assembly of the KC-390 in the United States in response to U.S. Air Force interest.

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