São José dos Campos, January 10, 2011 – Embraer confirmed the sale of ten EMBRAER 190s to CDB Leasing Co., Ltd. (CLC), of China, today. The jets will be operated by China Southern, the country’s largest airline, and the third in the world. The aircraft will be used to develop new markets, and the first delivery is expected for the second half of 2011.

“Embraer is delighted to complete the first operation under the Memorandum of Understanding signed with CDB Leasing, in 2009, for the purchase and leasing of E-Jets. This deal reaffirms their strong recognition and confidence in our products, as well as in the prospects for China’s regional aviation growth,” said Paulo César de Souza e Silva, Embraer Executive Vice President, Airline Market. “We are proud to welcome China Southern as the newest E-Jet operator and another prominent airline on our customer roster. We are certain that the EMBRAER 190 will be an important tool to support the company’s market development strategy.”

“We are very pleased to make this significant deal with Embraer, and are honored to cooperate with China Southern, again. This transaction is an important measure to support the airline’s aviation market expansion in Xinjiang and the economic development of the Xinjiang region. The deal will facilitate the strategic partnership between CLC and Embraer,” said Vice President Wu Rongyang, CDB Leasing Co., Ltd.

“China Southern enjoys the good partnership with Embraer and is full of confidence in its products. The EMBRAER 190 is a successful type of aircraft with proven economics and performance, and it is well received by the market. These aircraft will be operated in Xinjiang to boost the economic development of the region. The partnership between China Southern and Embraer will certainly be further consolidated,” said Xu Jiebo, Vice President of China Southern Airlines Co., Ltd.

The deal is within the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Embraer and CLC, in December 2009, which aims to create financing opportunities for selling Embraer aircraft to the Chinese and international markets. CLC is a major financial leasing company held by the China Development Bank, and one of the most important international aviation financing institutions.

China Southern has been an operator of Embraer’s ERJ 145, since 2004, with a fleet of six jets providing regional aviation services. In 2009, the company was awarded by Embraer for its successful operation of this aircraft model, in terms of pilot training, market development and maintenance improvement.

The EMBRAER 190 went into operation in the Chinese market in 2008. Today, 80 aircraft produced by Embraer are in service in China, including the 70- to 122-seat E-Jets, the 37- to 50-seat ERJ 145 regional jet family, and the Legacy 600 executive jet. With this new order, 29 EMBRAER 190s will be delivered to China in the coming years.

The EMBRAER 190 is the third of four members of Embraer’s E-Jets family. Its cabin may be configured in one or two classes, seating 98 to 114 passengers in a comfortable four-abreast (2×2) configuration with no middle seat. The jet can fly up to 2,400 nautical miles (4,450 kilometers) nonstop. At the present time, more than 700 E-Jets are operated, worldwide, and have accumulated over 5 million flight hours.

Source: Embraer Press Release