Mauritania Airlines placed a firm order for two E175 jets. The aircraft will be configured with 76 seats in a comfortable dual-class layout with deliveries to take place in 2019. "The acquisition of the E175 is part of our fleet modernization, replacing old aircraft and complementing our young narrow-body aircraft", said Mr Mohamed Radhy Bennahi, CEO of Mauritania Airlines. "We are certain that with E175 we'll be able to offer an even better service to our customers, with greater comfort, adding more frequencies and new destinations."
Wataniya Airways signed the papers for 10 E195-E2 aircraft. the Kuwaiti airline also took purchase rights for a further 10 aircraft. The airline will configure the new aircraft in a comfortable layout of 118 seats, with 12 in business class and 106 in economy class and is the worldwide launch customer for Embraer's new staggered business class seating. "The E195-E2 will allow us to open non-served markets and increase frequencies, delivering better connectivity to the Kuwait market", said Rakan Al-Tuwaijri, CEO of Wataniya Airways. "We have chosen the staggered seats to differentiate ourselves from the competition, offering a superior product with extra legroom and better privacy for our customers."
Zurich based Helvetic Airways signed a Letter of Intent for 12 E190-E2 and purchase rights for a further 12, with conversion rights to the E195-E2. The first 12 E190-E2 aircraft will begin replacing Helvetic's five Fokker 100s and seven E190s and commence in the autumn of 2019. Tobias Pogorevc, CEO of Helvetic Airways, said, "Our existing Embraer fleet is performing with excellent dispatch rates and our Fokker 100s have been very productive in the last 12 years. However, with the new E2 family, Helvetic will consolidate its highly reliable operation with the quietest and most efficient next-generation aircraft available. Furthermore, moving from the current E190 to the E2 fleet will be simple for our well-trained pilots, as only two and half days of 'non-simulator' transition training is needed."
Republic Airways, the world's largest E-Jet operator, signed a Letter of Intent for a firm order of 100 E175, with the right to convert to E175-E2 aircraft, and purchase rights for an additional 100 E175 aircraft. If all purchase rights are exercised, the contract has a value of up to USD 9.3 billion based on current list prices. "Over the past two decades we have acquired more than 350 jets through our partnership with Embraer," said Bryan Bedford, Republic's President and CEO. "This order positions Republic to focus on the next stage of growth in the North American regional market."
Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras put ink on a Letter of Intent for a firm order of 21 E195-E2 jets and is additional to an order for 30 E195-E2 jets signed by the airline in 2015, which will raise Azul's total order to 51 Embraer E2 aircraft. Azul is the launch operator of the E195-E2 and will receive the first aircraft in 2019. "Azul is much more than a customer to us, they are a great business partner. Embraer has been with Azul from the time they launched the airline, so it's so important for us to continue collaborating to build its future," said John Slattery, President & CEO, Embraer Commercial Aviation.
United Airlines announced on Monday that they signed a firm order for 25 E175 jets in a 70-seat configuration. Deliveries will begin in the second quarter of 2019, “We are thrilled that United is adding another 25 Embraer aircraft to the large existing fleet of almost 400 E-Jets and ERJ’s currently flying in the United Express network,” said Charlie Hillis, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, North America, Embraer Commercial Aviation. United's Senior Vice President of Finance and Acting Chief Financial Officer Gerry Laderman said, “The new E-175 aircraft will provide our customers with a superior product that offers the latest in onboard amenities and comfort. These aircraft will be a terrific addition to our fleet, and we are excited to begin taking delivery of the aircraft early next year.”
Nordic Aviation Capital was another to sign a Letter of Intent for Embraer aircraft, they went for three E190 aircraft and if it becomes a firm order these new aircraft will join the existing 134 E-Jets currently owned by NAC.