Virgin Australia has placed a firm order with Embraer for eight E190-E2 small narrowbody aircraft, as part of its fleet renewal plan.
According to a press statement by Embraer, a Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, the order will see the E190-E2, said to be the world’s most fuel-efficient single-aisle aircraft with the lowest noise emissions, complement the airline’s larger narrowbodies and replace its ageing Fokker fleet.
The statement adds that the deliveries of the aircraft are scheduled to begin in the second half of 2025 and that the order will be reflected in Embraer’s Q3 backlog.
The announcement was made at Perth in the presence of Deputy Premier of Western Australia and Treasurer, Minister for Transport and Minister for Tourism, 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, adds the statement.
“When the new E190-E2 enters service from October 2025, it will become the first new aircraft in the WA charter market this century. The E190-E2 is the most fuel-efficient aircraft in its segment and will reduce emissions by about 30 pc compared to the outgoing F100. These aircraft also feature significantly lower noise profiles and enhanced passenger comfort,” says Jayne Hrdlicka, Virgin Australia Group CEO.
“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,” she adds.
“The E2 is a game changer. 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,’’ says Martyn Holmes, Chief Commercial Officer, Embraer Commercial Aviation.
The statement adds that 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 pc SAF and has demonstrated through test flights the engine’s operability with 100 pc SAF.
Embraer says it is committed to developing products, solutions, and technologies to contribute to the aviation industry’s goal of achieving NetZero emissions by 2050. Embraer aims to be carbon neutral by 2040 and achieve carbon neutral growth from 2022. It plans to implement 25 pc sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) use in its operations by 2040 and 100 pc renewable energy sources by 2030.
The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer says that 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.