Porter Airlines, a Canadian regional carrier, will double the size of its fleet with an order for 30 E195-E2 aircraft from Embraer SA. The booking includes options for up to 50 more aircraft, for a potential value of $5.82 billion.
The first deliveries and start of service for the new aircraft will be in the second half of 2022.
Porter Airlines will be the first North American operator for Embraer’s for the E195-E2, the largest of Embraer’s E2 series, a redevelopment of the E-Jet regional aircraft. The E195-E2 will carry 120 to 146 passengers, in a twin-engine narrow-body aircraft that Embraer notes will have greater fuel efficiency due to the choice of Pratt & Whitney’s geared turbofan engines, improved aerodynamic design, and composite wing structures, among other factors.
Porter, which has yet to resume service following the Covid-19 pandemic, will restart on September 8. It currently operates 29 DeHavilland Dash 8-400 turboprop aircraft, so the Embraer aircraft will significantly reshape its market presence.
“With this order for up to 80 of our largest aircraft, the E2 is making a stunning North American debut,” according to Arjan Meijer, president and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation. “As the quietest and most fuel-efficient aircraft in the segment, the E195-E2 also delivers excellent economic performance that shines through.”
It’s the largest order ever for Porter, which serves mainly Canadian markets from a hub in Toronto. But, the carrier plans to use the E195-E2 to serve business and leisure destinations in the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean, from Halifax, Montreal, and Ottawa, as well as Toronto.
“This is a defining moment in Porter’s history. Today we lay the foundation for a new and further-reaching service for our customers, delivered in true Porter style and comfort,” according to the airline’s president and CEO Michael Deluce. “Embraer’s E2, with its spacious cabin, quiet operations, and no middle seats, provides the refined comfortable experience upon which Porter has built its reputation for service and quality.”
