UPDATE – Canada’s Porter Airlines has taken delivery today of the first two Embraer E195-E2s. The aircraft were handed over during a ceremony in Sao Jose dos Campos, with three more to follow before the end of the year.
Porter was expected to receive the first E2s in the second half of this year, but this slipped to the end of 2022 as the E190-E2 and E195-E2 were waiting for their type certificate from Transport Canada. This was granted only last week. The first aircraft was almost complete when AirInsight visited Embraer back in June.
Porter Airlines first ordered the E2 in July 2021, placing a firm order for thirty aircraft and fifty purchase options. It added another twenty on firm order at this year’s Farnborough Airshow, bringing the backlog to fifty firm and fifty purchase agreements. For the first five aircraft, Porter secured a sale and leaseback with Azorra, the lessor said on December 27.
The airline said that it will start operating the E2 on February 23 between Toronto Pearson and Halifax Stanfield International Airport, with a second daily service to follow on February 28. This means that Porter customers can now choose from two airports in Toronto: Pearson and City. Later on, the E2 will operate to Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary. As the fleet grows, more destinations on the North American West Coast, the southern US, Mexico, and the Caribbean will follow.
Porter’s E195-E2s come with a single-class cabin with 132 seats. (Embraer)
“The E195-E2 enables us to reach across the continent, beyond our Eastern Canada roots, while introducing a level of service for economy air travelers that no other North American airline provides”, Porter CEO Michael Deluce says in a media statement. “It’s an enhanced experience that builds on our reputation for providing an elevated level of service to every passenger at reasonable prices in a single class of service. The first planes are ready to fly to Canada later this month before going into regular service in February.”
While the E195-E2 is configured for 146 seats, Porter has opted for an all-Economy Class configuration with 132 seats. Passengers can choose between various seat pitches of 36, 34, and 30 inches and can enjoy free Wi-Fi.
