KLM confirmed on Tuesday a firm order of 21 Embraer E195-E2 jets, with purchase right for another 14 units. The aircraft will be acquired by leasing companies Aircastle and ICBC and then passed on to KLM Cityhopper, the regional division of the Dutch airline. Deliveries will begin in the first quarter of 2021, the manufacturer said.
The KLM order confirms a letter of intent signed in June during the Paris Air Show, with the addition of six more firm E195-E2 orders. If all purchase rights are exercised, the deal could reach $ 2.48 billion.
KLM aircraft already appear in Embraer’s backlog as orders from Aircastle and ICBC; each will supply the Dutch company with 11 and 10 E195-E2 jets, respectively. The aircraft will be configured with 132 seats.
“KLM’s decision to add a further six aircraft to this order is a significant vote of confidence in our E2 program,” said John Slattery, President and CEO, Embraer Commercial Aviation. “Delivering 30% lower emissions when compared to KLM’s current E190s, yet still providing further 32 seats, the E195-E2 will simultaneously increase capacity for KLM at slot built Schiphol Airport, while also delivering huge reductions in emissions.”
“For KLM this aircraft is a significant part of our commitment to improving our environmental impact. Not only is the E195-E2 the most fuel efficient lowest emission aircraft in its class, it is also the quietest by a considerable margin – a huge benefit for both our communities and our passengers, ”said KLM President and CEO Pieter Elbers .
KLM Cityhopper will be the fourth operator of the E195-E2, whose first units were recently delivered to Azul Linhas Aéreas. Other companies that have confirmed orders for the largest model of the new E2 series are Binter Canarias (with five aircraft ordered) and Air Peace (10 aircraft).
E2 with low sales
According to the latest report released by Embraer, the E195-E2 totaled 124 firm orders and 50 call options by the third quarter of this year, while the E190-E2, the first E2 model to debut on the market, totaled 44 firm orders and 61 purchase options. The E175-E2, scheduled for 2021, has no customers yet.
The volume of orders for Embraer’s E2 family jets is still far from its main competitor, the Airbus A220 (former Bombardier CSeries), which until October has accumulated 530 firm orders.
Sales of the A220 gained strong momentum after Airbus took over Bombardier’s CSeries program in June 2018. The same effect is also expected with the E2 jets following the early agreement between Embraer and Boeing. 2020.
