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SA regional airline aligns fleet modernisation with growth plan

3rd February 2017

By: Keith Campbell

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

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South African private-sector airline Airlink and Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer have jointly announced that the carrier is leasing five of the manufacturer’s twin-engined E-Jet family airliners.

The aircraft, three E170s and two E190s, will be obtained from ECC Leasing, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Embraer. Deliveries will start during the first half of this year. The deal makes Airlink the first Southern African airline to operate E-Jets.

“This is the beginning of the implementation of a well-planned growth and modernisation strategy for Airlink that includes replacing our current fleet of Avro RJ85s over the next three years,” explains airline CEO Rodger Foster. “The strategy calls for a total of 13 E-Jets, and we are in the process of sourcing the balance of the fleet requirement – an additional eight E190s – from the market.”

“The unique performance characteristics of the E-Jet family will enable Airlink to operate within the challenging environment of the region, including short field and ‘hot and high’ operations, while managing capacity and providing for growth,” he adds. “The E190’s ETOPS (Extended Twin Engine Operations) capability and range present Airlink with new market opportunities to address isolated destinations that were previously beyond our reach and, in some instances, that have never enjoyed the privilege of reliable scheduled air services.”

The airline already operates Embraer aircraft, in the shape of the manufacturer’s smaller ERJ regional airliner family. In December, it was announced that Airlink would acquire 11 more ERJs, all of the ERJ 140 model. By the end of this year, the airline will have 30 ERJs in service, comprising examples of all three members of the family – the ERJ 135, ERJ 140 and the ERJ 145.

“Welcoming another operator to the E-Jet family is always a great endorsement of our aircraft and the Embraer experience,” affirms Embraer commercial aviation VP: Africa, Latin America and Portugal Simon Newitt. “We are very proud that Airlink will now become the first South African operator of the type.”

“Embraer has proven to be an excellent partner for Airlink on our ERJ fleet, and we look forward to the continuation of superb customer support as we enter a new chapter of growth with the E-Jets,” says Foster.

The E170 can carry between 70 and 78 passengers and has a range of 2 150 nautical miles (nm), while the E190 can take between 98 and 114 and has a range 2 450 nm. The other members of the E-Jets family are the E175 (between 70 and 88 passengers, with a range of 2 200 nm) and the E195 (108 to 124 passengers, with a range of 2 300 nm). In contrast, the ERJ 135 can carry 37 passengers, with a range of 1 750 nm, the ERJ 140 can take 44 passengers and has a range of 1 650 nm, while the ERJ 145 can carry 45 passengers, with a range of 1 550 nm, although the ERJ 145 XR version increases these figures to 50 passengers and 2 000 nm. (Embraer is developing a re-engined and refined E-Jet family, known as the E-Jet E2 family, which will comprise the E175-E2, the E190-E2 and the E195-E2; the first E190-E2 made its maiden flight, ahead of schedule, last year.)

Currently, Airlink’s biggest aircraft is the four-engined BAE Systems Avro RJ85, which can carry a maximum of 83 passengers. The airline has 12 of these airliners in service. Thus, the growth and modernisation strategy will see a slight increase in numbers at the top end of Airlink’s fleet (from 12 to 13) but a significant increase in passenger capacity. Currently, the airline operates between 36 destinations in nine African countries. Its main hub is Johannesburg and it carries more than 1.4-million passengers on 44 800 flights a year. Its passenger profile is 70% business and 30% leisure. Airlink is a franchise partner of, but completely independent from, South African Airways.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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