- E190-E2 fleet to be based in Perth, Western
Australia
- Embraer's E2 offers outstanding comfort, performance, the
lowest noise emissions and fuel burn
- Delivery starts 2H2025
PERTH,
Australia, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin
Australia has placed a firm order
with Embraer (B3: EMBR3, NYSE: ERJ) for eight E190-E2
small narrowbody aircraft, as part of its fleet renewal plan.
The order will see the E190-E2, the world's most fuel-efficient
single-aisle aircraft with the lowest noise emissions, complement
the airline's larger narrowbodies and replace its long-serving
Fokker fleet. The order will be reflected in Embraer's Q3 backlog
and deliveries are scheduled to begin in the second half of
2025.
The announcement event was attended by the Deputy Premier of
Western Australia and Treasurer,
Minister for Transport and Minister for Tourism, the Hon.
Rita Saffioti. Virgin Australia's E190-E2 fleet will be based in
Perth and operated by Virgin
Australia Regional Airlines (VARA). The aircraft has a flying range
of around six hours and is powered by Pratt & Whitney's PW1900G
engines.
"When the new E190-E2 enters service from October 2025, it will become the first new
aircraft in the WA charter market this century," said Jayne Hrdlicka, Virgin Australia Group CEO. "The
E190-E2 is the most fuel-efficient aircraft in its segment and will
reduce emissions by about 30 per cent compared to the outgoing
F100. These aircraft also feature significantly lower noise
profiles and enhanced passenger comfort."
"When the E190-E2 joins the fleet from late next year it will
predominantly operate charter flights for VARA, bolstering its
position as a leading operator in the WA charter market.
"This is a huge vote of confidence by the Virgin Australia Group
in our charter business and the WA market."
"The E2 is a game changer," said Martyn
Holmes, Chief Commercial Officer, Embraer Commercial
Aviation. "We are excited to welcome Virgin Australia to the
Embraer family and look forward to seeing our best in class E2 -
renowned for comfort, quietness, and low emissions – take the
Airline to even greater heights."
Building upon the first-generation E-Jets' 20 years of
operational excellence, the E190-E2's enhanced aerodynamics, novel
wing design, and new technologies deliver significant improvements
in carbon emissions and fuel burn. It has been certified to fly
with blends of up to 50% SAF and has demonstrated through test
flights the engine's operability with 100% SAF.
Embraer is committed to developing products, solutions, and
technologies to contribute to the aviation industry's goal of
achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Embraer aims to be carbon
neutral by 2040 and achieve carbon neutral growth from 2022. It
plans to implement 25% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) use in its
operations by 2040 and 100% renewable energy sources by 2030.
Since the first Bandeirante took to Australia's skies in 1978, Embraer's has
firmly established its presence there with close to 50 aircraft
currently operating in the country, making it one of the largest
E-Jets fleets in the Asia-Pacific
region.
Images: https://embraer.bynder.com/share/DEEE1B18-8924-4E0B-9D78954B108E0BEB/
Visit newsroom.virginaustralia.com to read Virgin Australia's
press announcement.
About VARA and Virgin Australia Group
Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, formerly Skywest, has been a
proud fixture in the Western Australian landscape for more than six
decades. VARA joined Virgin Australia Group in 2013 and now
operates more than 250 services per week.
The Group was founded in the year 2000 by Sir Richard Branson and is now one of the largest
Australian airlines operating an extensive domestic network as well
as short-haul international services, charter and cargo operations,
and its loyalty program, Velocity Frequent Flyer. The Group employs
more than 7,800 people and boasts more than 12 million Velocity
members who can use their Points to redeem flights to over 600
destinations around the world through Virgin Australia and the
airline's extensive list of international partner
carriers.
About Embraer
A global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil, Embraer has businesses in Commercial
and Executive aviation, Defense and Security, and Agricultural
Aviation. The company designs, develops, manufactures, and markets
aircraft and systems, providing Services and Support to customers
after-sales.
Since it was founded in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than
8,000 aircraft. On average, about every 10 seconds an aircraft
manufactured by Embraer takes off somewhere in the world,
transporting over 145 million passengers a year.
Embraer is the leading manufacturer of commercial jets with up
to 150 seats and the main exporter of high value-added goods in
Brazil. The company maintains
industrial units, offices, service, and parts distribution centers,
among other activities, across the Americas, Africa, Asia,
and Europe.
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SOURCE Embraer S.A.