The first member of the E-Jets E2 family to be delivered will be an E190-E2. Embraer recently confirmed that the aircraft is due to be delivered to Widerøe of Norway in April 2018.
The surprise move by Airbus to take control of the Bombardier C Series programme has turned the spotlight onto the 100-seat regional jet sector, the market segment just below — and slightly overlapping with — the smallest members of the Airbus and Boeing product lines.
With the future of the Airbus/Bombardier C Series now looking more secure, and with the CS100 and CS300 both in service, Embraer's rival offering, the second-generation E-Jets E2 family is advancing towards first delivery. The E-Jets E2 family comprises enhanced versions of three of the original E-Jets: the E175-E2 (88 seats), E190-E2 (114 seats) and E195-E2 (130+ seats).
E2 enhancements include new wings, improved systems and avionics, 4th generation full fly-by-wire flight controls, and Pratt & Whitney PurePower Geared Turbofan engines (PW1700G on the E175-E2, PW1900G on the E190-E2 and E195-E2). PurePower engines were also selected for the C Series and are one of the two options offered on the A320neo.
The first E2 to be delivered will be an E190-E2. Embraer recently confirmed that the aircraft is due to be delivered to Widerøe of Norway in April 2018. It will feature a 114-seat, single-class configuration.The maiden commercial flight is scheduled for 24th April between Bergen and Tromso.
Widerøe has three firm orders for the E190-E2 and purchase rights for 12 more E2s. The airline, Scandinavia's largest regional carrier, will deploy its E2s on some of the 46 domestic and international cities in its network.
The first E190-E2 prototype rolled out in February 2016 and made its first flight three months later. The E195-E2, which made its maiden flight at the end of March, is scheduled to enter into service with Azul Brazilian Airlines in the first half of 2019. The entry into service of the third member of the family, the E175-E2 (80-88 seats), was recently pushed back by one year, to 2021.
Embraer foresees world demand for 6,400 new jets in the 70 to 130-seat segment over the next 20 years — 2,280 units in the 70 to 90-seat segment and 4,120 units in the 90 to 130-seat segment — representing a total market value of $300bn. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the largest market for the 90/130-seat segment (1,200 aircraft, 30% of the total), followed by Europe (880, 21%).