ICBC orders Chinese built Legacy jets

ICBC Financial Leasing has signed a deal for 10 Legacy 650 executive jets, including five firm orders and five options, with Harbin Embraer Aircraft
Industry (HEAI), Embraer’s joint-venture with Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Deliveries are scheduled to begin at the end of 2013.

ICBC Leasing is the launch customer of HEAI’s Legacy 600/650 programme and rounds out ICBC’s current 70-aircraft portfolio.

“It is really inspiring news that right after its inauguration of the Legacy 600/650 production programme in China, HEAI welcomes ICBC Leasing as the first customer,” said Guo Dianman, chairman of Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry. “We appreciate the confidence and trust ICBC Leasing has in us. By fully leveraging all resources, with the dedicated collaboration of AVIC and Embraer, HEAI will provide the outstanding and reliable performance for which the Legacy 600/650 is known.”

“Over a decade’s effort has gone into Embraer’s corporate image and products in the China market,” said Guan Dongyuan, president of Embraer China. “HEAI’s Legacy 600/650 programme and an immediate order from its first customer is solid proof of the faith our Chinese customers place in Embraer. China’s fast growing economy has been cultivating its business aviation market, which is expected to require some 635  executive jets in the next decade. We believe that Embraer Executive Jets will play an important role in China’s executive aviation market.”

“As a wholly owned subsidiary of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the world’s largest bank by market capitalisation, ICBC Leasing commits itself to be the world’s leading financial leasing institute,” said Cong Lin, president of ICBC Financial Leasing. “We are really delighted to make the order come true shortly after the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two sides last April. We do believe that, with joint efforts, both parties will have greater achievements in the executive aviation segment.”

With this deal, Embraer’s firm orders in China total 159 commercial and executive jets, including 20 firm orders for the Legacy 650.

Jackie Chan, the internationally renowned movie star and Embraer’s Executive Jets brand ambassador, was the first user of the aircraft in the Greater China region.