South African regional carrier Airlink has taken delivery of its first Embraer E195-E2, marking a significant upgrade to its fleet.
The aircraft, registered ZS-ARF (MSN 19020190), departed Embraer’s factory in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, on Sept. 22 and flew 6,317 km (3,400 nm) to Cape Town in just under 8 hr. After a technical stop, it continued to Johannesburg.
The delivery is the first of 10 E195-E2s scheduled to join Airlink’s operations through 2027, gradually boosting the airline’s capacity for domestic and regional routes. Entry into service is expected this December.
Airlink said the second E195-E2 is currently scheduled for “this weekend or early next week” with the third expected to follow in the first week of October.
Configured in a single-class layout with 136 seats, the E195-E2 offers higher capacity than the airline’s current dual-class, 107-seat E195s, enhancing operational efficiency.
The new jets are leased from Azorra under an agreement announced by Embraer in August.
At the time, CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht said South Africa’s type acceptance of the latest generation E195-E2, as well as its Pratt & Whitney engines by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), “are important milestones as we prepare to receive and take them into service.”
“The E2’s additional capacity and range will let Airlink respond to increased demand on some of our most popular routes and extend our destination network so that we can provide convenient connections for customers in new markets,” Engelbrecht said.
“This aircraft is the most efficient single-aisle jet in its class and perfectly suited to support Airlink’s ambitious growth plans across Southern Africa,” Embraer Commercial Aviation President and CEO Arjan Meijer said.
Airlink has become the second E2 operator in Africa after Air Peace. Embraer sees more potential for the E2 on the continent but is yet to secure more African customers.
Airlink has operated Embraer aircraft since 2001. The E195-E2 will be added to the airline’s current fleet of 65 Embraer aircraft, covering models from the ERJ family to the first-generation E-Jets.
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