São José dos Campos, October 1, 2007 – The 1000th aircraft of the ERJ145 family was unveiled to the public, last Friday, by Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry Co. Ltd. (HEAI) in Harbin City, China. This aircraft was manufactured by HEAI, the joint venture of Embraer and AVIC II, and delivered to Grand China Express, an airline that is wholly owned by Hainan
Airlines Group, which placed an order for 50 ERJ 145s and 50 EMBRAER 190s in August 2006. According to the agreement, the 50 ERJ 145s will be manufactured by HEAI, whilst the 50 EMBRAER 190 will be manufactured by Embraer in Brazil.

“I am delighted to witness the delivery of the 1000th jet of the ERJ 145 family to our valuable Chinese customer, the HNA Group. The aircraft is a proven product and has been flying with all the main world-class regional airline operators around the globe, since 1996,” said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President and CEO. “I firmly believe the aircraft perfectly
fits the overall operational strategy of Grand China Express.”

“ERJ 145 project is a significant measure of AVIC II to fulfill the strategy for development of regional aircraft and regional aviation instituted by the Central Government and the State Department,” said Hongbiao Zhang, General Manager of AVIC II. “It is the first time that China collaborates by a pattern of joint venture with a leading foreign civil aircraft manufacturer to assemble aircraft. This project is a major outcome of the collaboration between China and Brazil in high tech industry, and a successful model of ‘South-South Cooperation’. It is beneficial to the development of aviation transportation, the pervasiveness of the convenience of aviation and the construction of a harmonious society. This project also prompts the development of aviation manufacturing industry and synchronizes China’s aviation industry with advanced technology worldwide. We will strengthen the cooperation with Embraer to deliver eximious service to clients in China.”

Mr. Chen Feng, Chairman of HNA Group, said that the purchase of ERJ145 aircraft by the Grand China Express is a specific initiative that HNA Group has made to support the development of national aircraft manufacturing industry. HNA Group is expecting to effectively lift the Chinese competency in national aviation industry through this effort and to
promote the development of the national civil aviation. Besides, HNA Group is hoping to facilitate the regional feeder aviation industry by this initiative and to optimize the regional fleet ratio in China. In addition, HNA Group believes that this initiative will greatly promote the mutual trading partnership and friendship between China and Brazil as well. Mr. Chen Feng also said that HNA Group will regard the first delivery of ERJ145 as the starting point to building a long-term cooperative relationship with EMBRAER, AVIC II as well as Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry Co., Ltd. so as to make some contributions to the realization of building a powerful aviation country of China, to the promotion of the economic development in west China and to building a socialism harmonious society.

After the ceremony, the milestone ERJ 145 aircraft flew directly to Tianjin City, where Grand China Express is based, and the flight service will start right away.

Source: Embraer