South African regional carrier Airlink is steadily expanding its offering as it absorbs a new batch of Embraer E195 E2s.
The Johannesburg-based airline received the first three examples of the new model last October and will take a total of 10 on charge through 2027.
Airlink is unusual in having almost the complete portfolio of Embraer regional jets and small narrowbodies in its fleet of around 70 aircraft.
It includes E170s and 175 E195s, as well as the larger E190 E1 and E195 E1, in addition to the new second-generation E195 E2s. It also operates earlier-generation Embraer ERJ135s and 140s.
The company also made the news in December with the purchase of two E190s that it will use as spare aircraft, from which it can remove components to improve the serviceability of the fleet.
The initial E195 E2s, which seat up to 136 passengers in a single-class layout, are coming via Florida-based lessor Azorra and providing Airlink with additional capacity on high-density domestic routes such as Johannesburg - Durban, Cape Town – Hoedspruit, Gqeberha-Johannesburg and Cape Town-Mbombela (Nelspruit), which are popular all year round with business and leisure travellers.
The remaining seven aircraft will be delivered in a two-class, 124-seat configuration.
However, the E195-E2s’ extended range in comparison with its predecessor models, 2,600nm as opposed to slightly more than 2,000nm, will also extend Airlink’s reach, creating new opportunities to connect more destinations across sub-Saharan Africa.
The new aircraft are expected to achieve fuel savings of up to 29% compared to Airlink’s earlier-generation E195s. This will improve efficiencies and reduce emissions across its network, which covers 45 destinations in 15 countries, including the UK possession of St Helena far out in the South Atlantic and Madagascar, northeast of South Africa’s eastern coast.
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