Boeing, Airbus Gird for New Duel in Niche Market for Small Jets
- Embraer’s E2 planes are facing off against Bombardier C Series
- United, JetBlue, Air France-KLM consider E2, C Series planes
Flight attendants take a selfie in front of a prototype of the Embraer SA E-190 E2 passenger aircraft.
Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Embraer SA’s first new narrow-body jet is set to fly into commercial service next week to take on Bombardier Inc. But that’s just a prelude to the bigger battle emerging between heavyweights Boeing Co. and Airbus SE.
At stake: possible orders from Air France-KLM, United Continental Holdings Inc., and JetBlue Airways Corp. The sales campaigns are a key test for Embraer and Bombardier as they seek to prove the potential of a new generation of 100- to 150-seat narrow-body jets -- a market sliver that Airbus and Boeing have largely abandoned for bigger, more profitable models.