Low-cost carrier SalamAir announced a firm order for six E195-E2 jets with Embraer in October 2022 and expected to take delivery of the first aircraft in late 2023. However, none of these jets have arrived in Oman to date.
The Muscat-based carrier, which currently operates a fleet of Airbus A320s and A321s powered by CFM Leap-1 engines, had hoped to complement these aircraft with the smaller jet, configured with 135 seats in two classes.
But once again, the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine played a decisive role in delaying the debut of the E2 family aircraft.
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In addition to the extensive recall of the turbofan, which has kept aircraft such as the A320neo family and its rival A220 on the ground, the PW1000G has also generated suspicions about its operation in harsh and dusty environments such as the Middle East.
According to a report, Embraer has recommended that SalamAir wait for an upgrade prepared by Pratt & Whitney on the GTF’s combustion engine before receiving its E195-E2s, which should occur around the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027.
In a statement, Embraer confirmed that it has agreed “with the customer to postpone deliveries, as they operate the engines in a particularly challenging environment.”
Another 10 A320 family jets by 2028
In addition to the six E195-E2s acquired, the carrier has another six jets as a purchase option.
Amid uncertainty about these, SalamAir announced in January that it is seeking to lease 10 more A320 family jets to be received over the next three years.
The fleet currently consists of six A320neo and seven A321neo, but another two A321neo will be received in 2025.
With 50% of the shares in the hands of the Omani government, SalamAir has seen passenger demand grow significantly. In 2024, 3.2 million passengers were transported, 20% more than in 2023.
The heated aircraft market and bottlenecks in the production of new jets, however, could frustrate the company’s performance in the coming years.
