Airline Airlink has accepted the first three of ten new Embraer E195-E2 jetliners under its lease agreement with aircraft leasing company Azorra.

The newly built aircraft will bolster Airlink's current all-Embraer fleet.

The aircraft, which seat up to 136 passengers in a two-by-two cabin layout each, will provide Airlink with additional capacity to better compete on high-density routes, such as the Johannesburg to Cape Town route.

The additional range of the Embraer E195-E2 aircraft will also open new route opportunities to connect more destinations and markets across sub-Saharan Africa, the airline says.

The new aircraft are being ferried from Embraer’s facilities in São José dos Campos, near Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Johannesburg via Cape Town.

The aircraft will enter service with Airlink in December, in time to meet the peak summer holiday season demand.

In the interim, Airlink is demonstrating its ability to operate and support the aircraft to the South African Civil Aviation Authority so that they can be added to the airline’s air operators certificate.

Therefore, Airlink pilots, cabin crew, engineering and technical personnel are undergoing training on the E195-E2 while its aircraft maintenance facility is also equipped to support the aircraft and its state-of-the-art ultra-quiet and efficient Pratt & Whitney PW1009G geared turbofan engines.

“The integration of the E195-E2s into Airlink’s fleet is an important milestone in the company’s 33-year history and will set it on a new trajectory,” says Airlink CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht.

“In addition to the operational and commercial flexibility the larger and more capable aircraft offer, they will also unlock additional efficiencies and cost savings from the high degree of operating, maintenance, training and equipment commonality with our existing E-Jets.

“The new E2s and our current E-Jets have very similar flight decks, operating procedures and handling characteristics, which will also ensure a streamlined entry into service,” he adds.

“Together with Embraer and Pratt & Whitney, our delivery of these first three E195-E2s supports Airlink’s continued growth with advanced, fuel-efficient aircraft that enhance performance and passenger comfort.

“We look forward to supporting Airlink as it deploys the E2 across its expanding network in Southern Africa,” says Azorra CEO John Evans.