Profits for Brazil’s Embraer jet maker rose 8.4 percent in the first quarter amid strong global demand for its mid-size passenger planes and new executive jets, the company said Tuesday.

Empresa Brasiliera Aeronautica SA, the world’s fourth-largest maker of passenger planes, said earnings for the quarter ending March 31 were 63.4 million reals (US$37.3 million, euro24 million), up from 58.5 million reals (US$34.4 million, euro22.2 million) in the same period last year.

On a per share basis, profits were 0.09 reals (US$0.05, euro.03) in the first quarter, up from 0.08 (US$0.05, euro.03) reals a year ago, the Sao Jose dos Campos-based company said in an earnings report.

Sales jumped 24 percent to 2.3 billion reals (US$1.4 billion, euro900 million), while backlogged orders increased 8 percent over the same quarter last year _ leaving Embraer with 835 firm orders and 840 options.

The company delivered 45 commercial and executive jets in the first quarter and reaffirmed its 2008 forecast of 195 to 200 deliveries, plus 10 to 15 Phenom 100 executive jets.

New customers include Europe’s Air Moldova and a new Brazilian airline called “Azul,” or “Blue,” which is being launched by U.S.-based JetBlue Corp. founder David Neeleman. He expects his first deliveries of Embraer planes early next year.

The Phenom executive jet, which can carry four passengers _ or six with the plane’s bathroom removed _ should be certified for flight and sale during the second half of 2008, Embraer said.

The earnings results were released after markets had closed. Embraer’s American depository shares in New York rose 0.7 percent on Tuesday, or US$0.30 (euro0.19) to US$41.96 (euro27.02).