Brazilian jet builder Embraer S.A. earned a new contract from Indian airline Air Costa for 50 E-Jets E2s, with purchase options for 50 more jets. The order calls for 25 E190-E2s and 25 E195-E2s, and is estimated by the manufacturer to be worth $2.94 billion, according to its 2014 list prices.
This contract raises the total number of E-Jets E2 on order since the jets were introduced last June to 200, with 200 more purchase options.
The E-Jet E2 is a class of medium-range, twin-engine airliners, scheduled for first deliveries in 2018. The E190-E2 variant is forecast to start service in the first half of 2018, while the slightly higher-seating capacity E195-E2 version would enter service in 2019.
The Pratt & Whitney PurePower Geared Turbofan engines are the power source for the new jets. It’s a high-bypass geared turbofan engine family, also used to power the Bombardier CSeries, Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), and an optional selection for the Irkut MS-21 built by the Russian OEM United Aircraft Corp. and the Airbus A320neo.
"Our goal is to improve connectivity within India, more specifically, the secondary and tertiary cities," stated Air Costa chairman Lingamaneni Ramesh. "We believe that Embraer's E2 aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney's PurePower engines will help us reach that goal."
Air Costa is a new regional airline (operations started last October) centered in Vijayawada, and connecting cities in southern India (e.g., Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Vijayawada), as well as some secondary cities in the north and northwest of the country. It is the first customers for the new jets in the Indian market.
“E-Jets have proven their ability to stimulate traffic and sustain airline profitability while providing affordable and comfortable air travel to people in emerging markets like Brazil and China,” according Paulo Cesar Silva, president and CEO, Embraer Commercial Aviation.
"We are very proud that Air Costa has chosen to expand its fleet with PurePower engines on E-Jets E2 aircraft," according to Dave Brantner, president of Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines. "Already more than 50 customers from around the globe are showing their confidence in our PurePower engine technology, which has completed more than 7,600 hours of ground and flight testing."
