Brazil-based global major aerospace group Embraer has announced that Air Côte d’Ivoire, the national flag carrier of the West African State of Côte d’Ivoire, has ordered four E175 small single-aisle airliners, and has taken options on eight more. This order was part of the airline’s regional expansion and fleet modernisation strategy.

“This order marks a significant step in our fleet development strategy,” highlighted Air Côte d’Ivoire CEO Laurent Loukou. “The Embraer E175 is perfectly suited to our domestic and regional ambitions. Its capacity is perfectly adapted to the size of African markets. Its performance and comfort will allow us to offer a superior passenger experience, while supporting our growth and the development of our Abidjan hub. It also enables us to gradually phase out our turboprop fleet and operate more efficiently across our network while improving our economic performance with better operating costs and profitability.”

The first of the E175s will be delivered during the first half of 2027. They will each be configured to take 76 passengers, composed of 12 business class and 64 economy class. The airline selected the E175 because it is faster, has a longer range, has more cargo capacity and is more comfortable than the turboprops it currently operates.      

“We are honoured to welcome Air Côte d’Ivoire to the E-Jet family,” affirmed Embraer Commercial Aviation president and CEO Arjan Meijer. “Embraer is firmly established as the market leader in the up to 150 seat segment in Africa, the E175 is a proven performer on the continent and its capabilities are a perfect match for the airline’s vision. This aircraft will bring immediate benefits in terms of connectivity, efficiency, and passenger satisfaction, and we look forward to supporting Air Côte d’Ivoire as they expand their network and strengthen their position in the region.”

Air Côte d’Ivoire was founded in May 2012 and now has a more than 50% share of the Côte d’Ivoire air transport market. The airline recently inaugurated a long-haul between the Côte d’Ivoire capital, Abidjan, and Paris (Charles de Gaulle). The E175s will optimise the carrier’s connectivity to and from Abidjan.

Currently, 56 different African carriers operate 250 Embraer aircraft. In the segment for airliners with up to 150 seats, Embraer is now the leader across the continent, with a 31% market share.