SkyWest Airlines becomes launch customer for Embraer second-generation E-Jet (E-175-E2)

Embraer kicked off the Paris Air Show with the launch of its second-generation E-Jet, the E2, and secured a firm order from SkyWest Inc. for 100 E-175-E2 aircraft.
                                                                       
The Utah-based parent of SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet also took 100 purchase rights. The order, which is valued at $9.4 billion including the purchase rights, is in addition to SkyWest’s recent order for up to 200 E-175s. The E2 models are being listed about 15% more expensive than current E-Jets.

Embraer also received a letter of intent (LOI) from International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) for 25 E-190-E2 and 25 E-190-E2 aircraft, plus 25 options for each. In addition, five undisclosed airlines from Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia signed LOIs for 65 more E-Jet E2 aircraft. In total, Embraer has firm orders, LOIs and options for 365 E-Jet E2 aircraft.

There will be no second generation E-170 aircraft. The first E2 to enter service will be the E-190-E2 in 2018, Embraer said. First flight is targeted for the second half of 2016. The E-195-E2 is scheduled to enter service in 2019 and the E-175-E2 in 2020.

All of the E2 models will be powered by new Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan (GTF) engines and have new wings.
 
Embraer senior VP-operations and COO Luis Carlos Affonso said the E2 E-Jets will be “as modern and efficient as a clean-sheet design. If we had designed a new aircraft, it wouldn’t be better.”

He said the E-175-E2, to seat between 80 and 90 passengers, will be 16% more fuel efficient than the current E-175. The E-195-E2, to seat 97-114 passengers, will also burn 16% less fuel than its current counterpart, he added. The E-195-E2, to seat 118-144 passengers, is targeted to be 23% more fuel efficient than the current E-195.

Embraer president and CEO Frederico Fleury Curado said the Brazilian manufacturer will spend $1.7 billion over the next eight years developing the E-Jet E2 variants. He added that “we expect some competition” for the E-195-E2 from Bombardier’s CSeries, but not from Airbus or Boeing aircraft.

“We do not see ourselves going after the narrowbody market,” he explained. “We see the E2 as complimenting the narrowbody 737 and A320 families,” allowing airlines to “right-size” aircraft on given routes.
 
Embraer Commercial Aviation president and CEO Paulo Cesar Souza e Silva said the company expects to continue building the current versions of E-Jets through at least 2019.

(Aaron Karp - ATWOnline News)