EXHIBIT 99.1
[NEWS RELEASE www.embraer.com GRAPHICS OMITTED] [EMBRAER LOGO]
US AIRWAYS ORDERS 85 EMBRAER 170s
Announcement Makes US Airways the North American Launch Customer of the Type
Sao Jose dos Campos, May 12, 2003 - Embraer announced today an order from US
Airways for 85 EMBRAER 170 airliners with deliveries starting later this year.
The airline also took options on 50 additional EMBRAER 170s and 140 ERJ 145s.
The total value of the firm contract at list price is US $ 2.1 billion, with a
potential value of more than US $ 6.2 billion, if options are converted.
"To be a part of US Airway's remarkable growth plan and to have them as the
launch customer in North America for the EMBRAER 170 is exciting for all of us
at Embraer," said Mauricio Botelho, president and chief executive officer of
Embraer. "US Airways is redefining the American commercial airline market, and
we are very proud to be supplying the EMBRAER 170, an aircraft that is
redefining what people expect from a commercial airliner."
US Airways is the first carrier in North America to order the new EMBRAER 170,
the first member of a new family of Embraer airliners designed to tap the gap
between 50-seat regional jets and larger jets with more than 120 seats.
Under the agreement, US Airways will take 55 aircraft from Embraer and 30 from
General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), which had ordered 50 EMBRAER
170s in 2000.
The EMBRAER 170 gives US Airways flexibility to meet the changing environment of
the U.S. market and achieve its desired economic results. It is the only
aircraft specifically designed for the 70- to 110-seat market, providing the
passenger with unparalleled cabin comfort and baggage space, and the carrier
with excellent operating economics, performance, and reliability.
US Airways will take its first EMBRAER 170 in November 2003.
US Airways is the nation's seventh-largest airline, serving nearly 200
communities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. Most of its
route network is concentrated in the eastern U.S., where it is the largest air
carrier east of the Mississippi. US Airways, US Airways Shuttle, and the US
Airways Express partner carriers operate over 3,300 flights per day.
[NEWS RELEASE www.embraer.com GRAPHICS OMITTED] [EMBRAER LOGO]
EMBRAER 170/190 - The New Family of Commercial Jets
Embraer has launched and is currently developing an entirely new family of
aircraft. Specifically designed for the commercial market, the new line is
composed of the EMBRAER 170, EMBRAER 175, EMBRAER 190 and EMBRAER 195 jets -
seating respectively 70, 78, 98 and 108 passengers at a generous 32-inch pitch.
Six pre-series 70-seat EMBRAER 170 aircraft, the first model of the Company's
new family of commercial jets, are undergoing an intensive certification
program. The maiden flight occurred on February 19, 2002 - only 32 months after
the official launch of the EMBRAER 170/190 program in June 1999. Recently the
EMBRAER 170 surpassed the major phase of its static structural testing campaign
with absolute success. Certification is expected by mid-2003, followed by the
first delivery to Alitalia.
Embraer expects its new family of commercial jets will gain a significant share
of the growing market for aircraft in the 70- to 120-seat segment - mainly due
to their superior performance, exceptional cabin comfort and low operating
costs. The airplanes are designed with premium-class seating capability, two
forward and two aft doors, forward and aft galleys and lavatories, a spacious
cabin with ample overhead and under-seat stowage space, and large forward and
aft cargo compartments for baggage and freight.
Currently the EMBRAER 170/190 family has 149 firm orders and 189 purchase
options from SWISS, Air Caraibes, Alitalia, GECAS, LOT and US Airways.
Note to editors
- ---------------
Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. - NYSE: ERJ; Bovespa: EMBR3 and
EMBR4) is one of the world's leading aerospace companies. With headquarters in
Sao Jose dos Campos, state of Sao Paulo, and offices and customer service bases
in Australia, China, France, Singapore and the United States, the Company as of
March 31, 2003 has a total workforce of 12,407 people. Embraer was Brazil's
largest exporter from 1999 to 2001, and second largest in 2002. As of March 31,
2003 Embraer's firm order backlog totaled US$ 7.9 billion and the total backlog,
including options, equaled US$ 19.2 billion.
Embraer has 33 years of experience in designing, developing, manufacturing,
selling and providing after sales support to aircraft for the global airline,
defense and corporate markets.
[NEWS RELEASE www.embraer.com GRAPHICS OMITTED] [EMBRAER LOGO]
IR Contacts
- -----------
Anna Cecilia Bettencourt
Gustavo Poppe
Milene Petrelluzzi
Paulo Ferreira
Phone: 55 (12) 3927 1216
Fax 55 (12) 3922 6070
e-mail: mercapit@embraer.com.br
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This document may contain projections, statements and estimates regarding
circumstances or events yet to take place. Those projections and estimates are
based largely on current expectations, forecasts on future events and financial
tendencies that affect the Company's businesses. Those estimates are subject to
risks, uncertainties and suppositions that include, among other: general
economic, politic and trade conditions in Brazil and in those markets where the
Company does business; expectations on industry trends; the Company's investment
plans; its capacity to develop and deliver products on the dates previously
agreed upon, and existing and future governmental regulations.
The words "believe", "may", "is able", "will be able", "intend", "continue",
"anticipate", "expect" and other similar terms are supposed to identify
potentialities. The Company does not feel compelled to publish updates nor to
revise any estimates due to new information, future events or any other facts.
In view of the inherent risks and uncertainties, such estimates, events and
circumstances may not take place. The actual results can therefore differ
substantially from those previously published as Company expectations.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press
offices Headquarters North America Europe, Middle East
and Africa
Rosana Dias: Doug Oliver:
rosana.dias@embraer.com.br doliver@embraer.com Stephane Guilbaud:
Cell: +55 12 9724-4929 Phone: +1 954 359 3414 sguilbaud@embraer.fr
Phone: +55 12 3927 1311 Cell: +1 954 232 9560 Phone: + 33 (0) 1 49 38 44 55
Fax: + 55 12 3927 2411 Fax: +1 954 359 4755 Cell. +33 (0) 6 75 22 85 19
Fax: + 33 (0) 1 49 38 44 56
Andrea Bottcher:
abottcher@embraer.com Catherine Fracchia
Phone: +1 954 359 3432 cfracchia@embraer.fr
Cell: +1 954 439 1830 Phone: +33 (0) 1 49 38 45 30