Page 90 - World Airnews Magazine January 2020 Edition

AFRICA

CONGO AIRWAYS ORDERS TWO

EMBRAER

phase out, presumably because the E-jets The Embraer E2 is a marked step up from
have a greater range. the original E-jets. While it maintains that
Flag carrying airline of the Democratic The E-175s will be delivered in a two class comfortable cabin of the original large
Republic of Congo, Congo Airways, has layout, with a total passenger capacity of regional aircraft, the E2 adds a bunch
placed a firm order with Embraer for two 76 people. There will be 12 business class of modern features to make the aircraft
of its smallest E-jets. The order is with seats on board. Deliveries are slated to competitive in the modern space. The E2
options to purchase a further two later on. begin in the final quarter of 2020. has a newly designed wing for efficiency,
new advanced digital fly by wire, to reduce
DETAILS OF THE ORDER COULD CONGO AIRWAYS PURCHASE trim drag and therefore fuel consumption,
DRC headquartered Congo Airways has THE E2 IN FUTURE? and lower maintenance costs.
The E2 family of jets are proving to
firmed up a deal with Embraer for two E175 While it’s great to see Congo Airlines lining be a popular choice with many airlines.
aircraft. The deal also includes options for up to begin fleet renewal, the question has Norwegian regional airline Wideroe was
a further two A175s later on. If all purchase to be asked, why the old Embraer? Why the launch customer of the E190-E2,
rights are exercised, this agreement would would you plum for an E-Jet when the E2 whereas Brazil’s Azul was the launch
be worth (US) $194.4m at list prices. is alive and kicking? The likely reason is customer of the larger E195-E2.
CEO of Congo Airways, Desire Bantu said, because the smallest version of the E2, the
“These new jets will replace our current E175-E2, has its entry into service pushed Still on the table is the deal with Boeing
turboprop offering and allow us to serve back to 2021. Congo perhaps needs their to migrate Embraer into Boeing Brasil-
routes both within the Democratic Republic aircraft sooner, but that doesn’t mean that Commercial. Despite receiving shareholder
of Congo, and regionally to West, Central, the E2 is not on the future cards for this approval in February this year, an EU
and Southern Africa, from our hub in little airline. antitrust probe has slowed down the
Kinshasa.” Congo’s CEO Bantu said, “We will now implementation of the deal.
Congo Airways is a small airline with have the flexibility and the right sized The parties now expect it to be well
just four aircraft in its fleet. Its two Airbus aircraft to serve our market, which is into 2020 before the agreement is fully
implemented. It’s not known at this stage
A320-200s are complemented by two growing so rapidly an additional order whether the Embraer E jets will receive a
Bombardier Dash-8 Q400s. It is these two may be required, for which the E2 is a
turboprops that the airline is looking to particularly compelling option.” name change then. Q

World Airnews | January Extra 2020
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