Ryanair group chief executive Michael O'Leary has expressed concerns about Boeing's ability to deliver 737 Max 8-200s as scheduled. Briefing analysts on 25 July, O'Leary referenced Boeing's "mumbling" about possible delays to some 50 Max 8-200s due for delivery between now and April 2024. "We are concerned about Boeing's ability to make those deliveries on time," says O'Leary. "They are already kind of mumbling about delivery delays, which we don't understand and won't accept, given that Boeing have already confirmed they are producing 31 aircraft a month from June of this year, so they will produce 200 aircraft between now and the end of the year." Ryanair expects delivery of 21 Max jets before Christmas and another 30 between January and April. These aircraft would allow the group to grow capacity 9-10% in the summer of 2023. O'Leary says he holds Boeing chief executive David Calhoun in "high regard" but has "very little confidence" in Boeing management in Seattle, and continues to be a "worrier" about delivery issues. The Ryanair supremo recalls that Calhoun and Boeing Commercial Airplanes chief executive Stan Deal assured the airline during a meeting in Dublin in May that it would be prioritised for deliveries, but says that in subsequent letters the airframer has sought to backtrack on those assurances. He accuses Boeing of being "long on talk and short on deliveries". Another source of concern for O'Leary is that previous deliveries of Max jets to Ryanair had come from already built inventory but now Boeing needs to build aircraft to be handed over. He points out, however, that thanks to its currency hedges the airline group is paying about a third less for its 737 Max deliveries than if it was not hedged.

Embraer delivered 11 commercial aircraft and 21 executive jets during the second quarter. The firm order backlog stood at $17.8 billion at 30 June, up 12% year on year and at its highest level since 2018, driven by new sales of aircraft and services, the Brazilian airframer says. In June, Embraer signed its first firm contract for the conversion of E-Jets, with an undisclosed customer. Under another contract, Nordic Aviation Capital agreed to take up to 10 conversion positions for E190F/E195F jets. At the Farnborough air show this month, Embraer disclosed an order for 20 E195-E2 jets from Porter Airlines, which will be included in the firm order backlog for the third quarter. The airframer also revealed a firm order from Alaska Air Group for eight additional E175 jets, included in the second-quarter backlog. During the quarter, Sky High joined Embraer's family of E-Jets operators with an agreement for two E190s. At 30 June, Embraer had delivered a total of 46 aircraft this year, comprising 17 commercial and 29 executive jets, it says.

Embraer has operated an E195-E2 to London City for the first time in preparation for KLM's planned scheduled flights with the aircraft from 2023. The Brazilian manufacturer says an example of its largest commercial aircraft was on 22 July flown to the downtown gateway from Farnborough, southwest of the UK capital. Landing at City requires a dedicated approval because of a 5.5-degree rather than standard 3-degree approach angle and increased braking after touchdown on the airport's relatively short 1,500m runway. Certification is scheduled to be granted by year-end, Embraer says. City's chief operating officer Alison FitzGerald states: "We are hopeful that we will see the first E195-E2 in operation next year with KLM." The Pratt & Whitney PW1900G-powered twinjet has the potential of connecting the airport with "more global markets", FitzGerald adds. Helvetic Airways, which serves City on behalf of compatriot Swiss, also operates E195-E2s, as well as E190-E2s. The 22 July tests at the UK gateway included ground handling. The 148-seat E195-E2 will supplant Swiss's 125-seat A220-220 as the largest aircraft operating from City. The A220's larger -300 variant – also part of Swiss's fleet – is not certificated for operation from City. Like the E195-E2, the A220 has a 35m wingspan. For Embraer, a City approval for the E195-E2 would mean that for the first time its largest passenger aircraft can operate from the airport. Within the first-generation E-Jet family, E190s and E170s were cleared to serve City, but not E195s and E175s. E190-E2s have been operating at the airport since September 2021. Embraer says the 22 July flight was powered by a 39% sustainable aviation fuel blend with conventional kerosene.