It has now been five years since the Embraer E2 series entered service. Norwegian carrier Widerøe introduced the E190-E2 on April 24th, 2018, and the family has gone on to become a rising star across the industry.
Regional prospects
The E175-E2, E190-E2, and E195-E2 have a mission to combine and provide increased efficiency to regional operations across the globe. Nine airlines currently operate the series in the form of:
- Air Astana
- Air Kiribati
- Air Peace
- Azul
- Binter Canarias
- Helvetic Airways
- KLM Cityhopper
- Porter Airlines
- Widerøe
However, operators are increasingly turning their attention to the narrowbody. For instance, in October, TUI confirmed that it had selected the E195-E2 due to its quietness and role as “the most efficient aircraft under 150 seats. Moreover, in February, Singapore’s Scoot revealed that it will take delivery of nine E190-E2s, becoming the first carrier in its country to operate the aircraft. The airline is excited to carry 112 passengers in a single-class configuration on flights spanning up to five hours.
With this momentum gathering, Simple Flying caught up with Daniel Galhardo, strategy director, Embraer, to learn more about the benefits of the company’s aircraft. We spoke at the Sustainable Skies summit at Farnborough International last month. Thus, it was the perfect time to dive into the environmental benefits of the E2.
Efficiency drive
Embraer initially noticed that the E2 had 1.3% better fuel consumption than expected. With assistance from the Pratt & Whitney PurePower Geared Turbofans that replaced the General Electric engines, the progress is 17.3% against the original.
The manufacturer noted that the PW1000G program claims to be “16% more efficient than comparable engines currently in use on regional airplanes and crossover narrowbody jets,” and by replacing larger and less efficient aircraft with the smaller but rightsized E2, “airlines can reduce carbon emissions by as much as 30%.”
Photo: Embraer
The sustainability benefits of the aircraft are only set to continue with the advent of sustainable aviation fuel. For instance, The Embraer E195-E2 completed its first 100% SAF flight last summer.
At the time, Embraer stated:
“The E2 is already the most efficient single-aisle aircraft flying today, saving up to 25% CO2 emissions compared to previous generation aircraft. This reduction in emissions can be increased up to an impressive 85% with 100% SAF.
Embraer has since highlighted that the likes of KLM have taken on the E2 following experiences with the E1 primarily due to sustainability prospects. The Dutch carrier recently marked two years of E195-E2 operations and has expressed that it took on the model to help cut down its environmental impact and boost capacity on high-density routes, lifting the burden off the ever-busy Schiphol Airport. The airline’s fleet is made up of 17 E170s, 30 E190s, and 15 E195-E2s.
While on board the E195-E2 during its first flight to London City Airport last summer, I noticed the generous space to be had on the comfy seats. So, while there are efficiency benefits, the passenger experience is not lost.
This trip to London City signifies another reason why the series is popular among certain airlines. It can operate at airports that have limitations thanks to its unique abilities. With a button solely dedicated to steep approaches, it is a master at operating in tight conditions.
Photo: Embraer
Additionally, the likes of London City have noise restrictions. Regarding this factor, the E2’s rival, the Airbus A220-300, is 11% nosier when measured in EMPdB. The E2’s noise perception is also 28% lower than the A321neo.
Looking ahead
The Asia-Pacific region is an area that has significant potential for Embraer. Galhardo noted that while there are strong prospects globally, there are exciting growth prospects in Asia, especially in this recovery period. Just this week, Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto added that “good news” is soon expected from China.
Embraer has touted that the E2 is the perfect fit for the Chinese sector. The company is also keen to cater to an increase in Indian air travel demand. The country’s domestic industry is going through a considerable transformation, and the E2’s capacity, comfort, and efficiency would slot in naturally on middle markets.
Thus, we can expect the E2’s rise to continue throughout the decade. With sustainability high on the agenda in the aviation industry, the E2 will combine well with other environmental initiatives to usher in a new chapter for the market.
What are your thoughts about the Embraer E2? What do you make of the family’s overall capabilities? Let us know what you think in the comment section.
Source: Air Data News
