Airlink, a regional airline based in South Africa, has exciting news to share as they recently announced their plans to lease 10 brand-new Embraer E195-E2 twin-engine passenger aircraft from Azorra, an aircraft lessor located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This big development was revealed during an eventful press conference that took place at the prestigious Paris Air Show 2025, hosted by none other than Embraer. The agreement between Airlink and Azorra promises to bring a significant upgrade to the airline's fleet of 68 aircraft, with the new E2s set to be delivered from Embraer's facilities in Brazil starting later this year, and continuing until 2027.

Martyn Holmes, the Chief Commercial Officer at Embraer Commercial Aviation, expressed his confidence in this collaboration with Airlink, stating, “Airlink has been a customer partner of ours since 2001 and the exceptional economics, the enhanced performance, and premium product of year two will enable Airlink to further grow through Africa.” The cutting-edge E195-E2 aircraft, each boasting 136 and 124 seats, are anticipated to result in fuel savings of up to 29% compared to the previous E195 models currently in operation by Airlink. This advancement aligns with Embraer's commitment to promoting economic efficiency and reducing emissions within Airlink's flight network.

De Villiers Engelbrecht, the CEO of Airlink, expressed his enthusiasm for the growth opportunities that the acquisition of E195-E2s brings to the airline. “The E195-E2 will bolster our business, helping us to be even more competitive on key routes,” Engelbrecht stated in a press release issued by Embraer post-conference. With the Pratt & Whitney GTF-powered E2s offering approximately 33% more seating capacity than Airlink's existing E190s, the airline is expected to drive down unit costs on high-demand routes, enabling expansion into new destinations within sub-Saharan Africa.

Embraer also highlighted that Airlink stands to benefit from cost efficiencies due to the similarities in operation, maintenance, training, and equipment between their current E-Jets and the incoming E2s, ensuring a seamless transition into service. Presently serving 45 destinations across 15 countries, including unique locations like St. Helena Island in the South Atlantic and Madagascar, Airlink is poised to further enhance its network connectivity and passenger experience with these cutting-edge additions to its fleet. For all the latest updates on the aviation industry, stay tuned to Pilotcenter.net News!