Brazilian aerospace corporation Embraer is planting roots at an airport in Dallas-Fort Worth.
The jetmaker on Monday broke ground on a new “state-of-the-art” maintenance facility at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport, a major hub for cargo operations and general aviation. Embraer will invest up to $70 million in the new facility, which will bring 250 new skilled aviation jobs to the region, the company said.
“This moment marks a new chapter in Embraer’s journey in the United States, a country where we’ve been for over 46 years,“ Francisco Gomes Neto, Embraer’s president and CEO, said in a statement. ”With an investment of up to $70 million and the creation of 250 new skilled aviation jobs, this facility is a symbol of our long-term commitment to the U.S. market.”
The new hangar is scheduled to open in 2027 and will boost Embraer’s capacity to serve U.S. E-Jet customers by 53%, officials said. Embraer’s E-Jet’s, which have 30% lower carbon dioxide emissions per passenger compared to older regional jets, come in four models: the E170, E-175, E190 and E195. The jets are used by major U.S. carriers like Fort Worth-based American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines to fulfill short-haul flights.
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American will have 358 Embraer jets in its active regional fleet by the end of this year.
Embraer began operating at one of Fort Worth Alliance’s pre-existing hangars in June while the new one is built. Embraer’s new Fort Worth service center will join the manufacturer’s global network, which includes over 80 authorized service centers and 13 Embraer-owned service centers worldwide, the company said.
“Embraer’s investment represents the kind of partnership that defines Perot Field Alliance and North Texas,” Ross Perot Jr., Chairman of Hillwood, said in a statement. “By aligning industry, government, and education around innovation, we’re building the infrastructure and talent base that will sustain the region’s aviation leadership for decades to come.”