Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Embraer, has had its latest E2 Jets, the E190-E2 and E195-E2, officially certified for commercial operations by South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).
EMBRAER E190, E195 E2 JETS CERTIFIED IN SOUTH AFRICA
This paves for the way for these aircraft to enter commercial operations in the country.
The certification comes after South African regional carrier Airlink, in June, signed a lease agreement with Azorra for 10 new E195-E2s.
“South Africa’s type acceptance of the latest generation Embraer E195-E2 and its Pratt & Whitney engines by the SACAA are important milestones as we prepare to receive and take them into service,” Airlink CEO De Villiers Engelbrecht said.
AIRLINK TO RECEIVE E2 JETS
The first deliveries of the new E2-Jets are expected to begin later this year, with the full fleet arriving by 2027.
These aircraft will seat up to 136 passengers in Embraer’s comfortable two-by-two configuration and will support Airlink’s growth across high-density and emerging routes in sub-Saharan Africa.
Airlink’s existing fleet is made up entirely of various Embraer aircraft, excluding E190-E2 and E195-E2 aircraft.
The new E2 aircraft will allow Airlink to scale operations as well as expand its route network. Furthermore, these aircraft will enable enhanced sustainability as well as cost savings for the airline.
“The E2’s additional capacity and range will let Airlink respond to increased demand on some of our most popular routes and extend our destination network so that we can provide convenient connections for customers in new markets.” Engelbrecht said.
The type acceptance process was closely supported by Embraer’s engine partner Pratt & Whitney, as the E2’s next generation PW1900G engines were, in parallel, certified in South Africa. With SACAA certification now in place, Embraer’s E2 jets are poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of aviation in South Africa and beyond.
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