The Istanbul show is turning out to be newsy for Embraer. Following the Salam Air order, we now have this news. Royal Jordanian Airlines and Embraer have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to introduce two variants of Embraer’s advanced E2 jets to its fleet: the E190-E2 and E195-E2. In total, the airline intends to operate ten new Embraer jets to optimally serve short-haul routes within the region. Embraer’s next E2 win today is Royal Jordanian.
Royal Jordanian has been operating Embraers E175s and E190s for the past fifteen years. Choosing the newest version of the same type of aircraft helps reduce the investment cost of pilot training and spare parts provisioning while also lowering crew scheduling and maintenance costs, the airline’s CEO Majali said. It is interesting that the airline is upsizing its E175s to E190-E2s. The E175-E2 was not ordered and isn’t available for now, as Embraer decided earlier to delay the certification until 2027.
Both airlines ordering the E2 use similar language describing their plans. Salam Air says “they will allow the airline to open new local and regional cities and increase its frequency to these destinations” and Royal Jordanian says that they will be “growing the fleet that is deployed on 2-hour flights to destinations within the Levant”.
The E2’s low costs and handy range capabilities mean operators can develop new markets at relatively low risk. Capturing traffic at the source means keeping that traffic and revenue for longer hauls. Having the right tool, meaning the optimal economics and an attractive product, ensures these E2 operators can draw traffic away from larger regional airlines.
Interestingly, Royal Jordanian hasn’t selected a combination of the Airbus A320neo family and A220, as other airlines like Qantas have done. The airline announced on Monday that it has selected the A320neo family as the replacement for the A319s, A320s, and A321s. The airline will acquire twenty neo’s.
