Widerøe, Norway’s largest regional carrier, will be the first airline in the world to receive the new E190-E2 jet, the first member of the E-Jets E2 series. The delivery of the first aircraft is scheduled for the first half of 2018.
Widerøe has a contract with Embraer for up to 15 E2 family jets, consisting of three firm orders for E190-E2 and options for another 12 E2 family aircraft. The order has a potential value of up to $ 873 million.
“The E2 program remains on target with technical specification guidance, on time and on budget. Our team remains focused on a successful delivery to Widerøe in the first half of next year, ” said John Slattery, President & CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation. The E190-E2 flew for the first time in May 2016. The E-Jets 2 family also includes the E195-E2 and E175-E2 models, scheduled for 2019 and 2020, respectively.
Widerøe is configuring the E190-E2 in a single class with 114 seats. With the order from Widerøe, the E-Jets E2 order book reaches 275 aircraft plus 415 letters of intent, options and purchase rights, totaling 690 commitments from airlines and leasing companies.
Stein Nilsen, CEO of Widerøe, said: “We are very proud we will be the first airline in the world to operate the E190-E2. Knowing the hard-work Embraer is doing in the certification campaign, especially in terms of maturity, we have every confidence in a smooth entry into service. The E190-E2 will be a big leap in Widerøe’s history, and our planning for the first deliveries is now well underway. ”
The Embraer E190-E2 will be Widerøe’s first jet airliner. The Norwegian company’s fleet of 41 aircraft is composed only of Bombardier Dash 8 turbo-propeller models, manufactured in Canada.
