Some passenger planes are named with purely utilitarian(实用主义的) alphanumerics: think Airbus’s A380. Occasionally the aerospace giants aim to convey something loftier(更高远的). Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner presents an image of modern comfort; Airbus’s A320neo highlights its use of the latest in aviation technology. Embraer, the world’s third-largest maker of passenger jets, takes a blunter approach(采取更直白的方式). Since 2017 it has marketed its fuel-efficient(燃油高效的) E2 regional jet as the “Profit Hunter”.
有些客机的命名纯粹是实用主义的字母数字组合：比如空客的A380。偶尔，航空巨头们会试图传达一些更高远的理念。波音的787梦想客机展现了现代舒适的形象；空客的A320neo则强调其采用了最新的航空技术。而世界第三大客机制造商巴西航空工业公司（Embraer）则采取了一种更直白的方式。自2017年以来，它一直将其燃油高效的E2支线喷气机推销为“利润猎手”。
The Brazilian company is a fraction of the size(规模的一小部分) of Airbus and Boeing. But it has had a remarkable few years. Demand is soaring(激增) not only for its smaller passenger planes, but also for the private and military jets it offers. In 2021 the company delivered a total of 141 planes. This year it might reach 255. On July 24th the company reported that its order backlog(订单积压) had reached a record $34.5bn. Francisco Gomes Neto, Embraer’s boss, sees an opportunity for “substantial growth” ahead. Investors agree. Since the start of 2021 its share price has risen roughly ten-fold, far outpacing those of Airbus or Boeing (see chart). Some now speculate that Embraer may take a tilt at(尝试挑战) the market for larger jets, going nose-to-nose(正面交锋) with the aerospace industry’s twin giants.
这家巴西公司的规模只有空客和波音的一个零头。但过去几年它表现非凡。不仅其小型客机的需求激增，其提供的公务机和军用喷气机也是如此。2021年，该公司共交付了141架飞机。今年可能达到255架。7月24日，该公司报告其订单积压已达到创纪录的345亿美元。Embraer的首席执行官弗朗西斯科·戈麦斯·内托认为未来有“大幅增长”的机会。投资者也认同。自2021年初以来，其股价已上涨约十倍，远超空客或波音（见图表）。一些人现在猜测，Embraer可能会尝试进军大型喷气机市场，与航空业的两大巨头正面交锋。
Embraer is benefiting from a number of tailwinds(顺风因素). Airlines these days must wait eight to ten years for a large narrow-body(窄体（飞机）) plane from Airbus or Boeing, which have a combined order backlog of 16,000 passenger jets thanks to rising demand for air travel and long-running supply-chain snags(供应链问题) dating back to the covid-19 pandemic. That has led to a surge(激增) in demand for the smaller E2, which can be delivered in less than two years.
Embraer正受益于多重顺风因素。如今，航空公司从空客或波音订购大型窄体飞机必须等待八到十年，这两家公司合计积压了16,000架客机订单，原因是航空旅行需求上升以及可追溯到新冠疫情的长期供应链问题。这导致了对较小的E2飞机的需求激增，而E2的交货时间不到两年。