Key Points
— LATAM received its first Embraer jets at a ceremony attended by President Lula, marking the first time Latin America’s largest airline will operate Brazilian-made aircraft
— The deal covers 24 firm orders for E195-E2 jets worth $2.1 billion, with options for 50 more that could bring the total fleet to 74 aircraft
— Lula called for expanding international air routes to Africa and Asia, saying Brazil must actively pursue travelers rather than wait for them to arrive
The LATAM Embraer partnership moved from contract to concrete on Wednesday as Latin America’s largest airline received its first Brazilian-made jets at a ceremony in São Carlos, São Paulo state. The Rio Times, the Latin American financial news outlet, reports that the event — attended by President Lula and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin — marks the first time in LATAM’s history that the carrier will fly aircraft built by Brazil’s own aerospace industry.
The airline is incorporating 24 E195-E2 jets under a $2.1 billion deal announced last September, with purchase options for 50 additional aircraft that could expand the fleet to 74 units by late 2026. First deliveries to LATAM Brasil are scheduled for the final quarter of this year, with other group affiliates to follow.
Lula Pushes LATAM Embraer Alliance as National Priority
Lula called the partnership “a marriage long awaited,” framing it as a convergence between the continent’s dominant carrier and the world’s third-largest commercial aircraft manufacturer. He urged LATAM to use the new fleet to open routes beyond traditional aviation corridors, pointing to Africa and Asia as untapped markets for Brazilian connectivity.
The president cited Nigeria’s 240 million inhabitants, Ethiopia’s 126 million, and Egypt’s 105 million as examples of populations Brazil could reach. “A country like Brazil cannot sit around waiting for people to come to us — we have to go after them,” Lula said, adding that within a decade the deal would prove successful for both companies.
A Record Moment for Brazilian Aviation
The ceremony took place at LATAM’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul center in São Carlos, South America’s largest such facility, which celebrated its 25th anniversary. The center handles 60 percent of the group’s scheduled fleet maintenance and employs more than 2,000 workers directly.
Ports and Airports Minister Silvio Costa Filho said the 24 aircraft represent an investment exceeding R$10 billion ($2 billion) and highlighted that Brazil’s air passenger numbers grew from 97.7 million in 2022 to 130 million in 2025. The government is now targeting 140 million passengers, which Costa Filho called the largest aviation expansion in the world during that period.
What the E195-E2 Means for Regional Routes
The E195-E2 is designed for routes where larger Airbus or Boeing jets cannot fill seats profitably. It carries up to 146 passengers, burns roughly 30 percent less fuel per seat than previous-generation models, and features a 2-2 cabin layout. For LATAM, which currently operates 362 aircraft — all Airbus and Boeing — the Embraer jets open access to up to 35 new destinations across South America.
Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto said having LATAM’s brand on the E2 platform strengthens the model’s international credibility. He noted that each aircraft supports thousands of jobs across Embraer’s 23,500-strong workforce in Brazil and abroad. LATAM Brasil CEO Jerome Cadier called it a day of celebration, noting that more than half of Brazil’s aviation sector growth last year was driven by his airline.
The deal arrives at a strong moment for Embraer, which closed 2025 with record revenue of $7.6 billion and a $31.6 billion order backlog. LATAM’s $4 billion investment cycle between 2023 and 2026 has expanded its network from 129 to 160 destinations, and the Embraer fleet promises to push that number higher. Whether the ambition to connect São Paulo to Lagos and Addis Ababa materializes remains to be seen, but for Brazil’s aerospace industry, the symbolism of LATAM flying Brazilian is already a milestone.