LONDON – Royal Jordanian Airlines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for 10 Embraer E2 aircraft at the Istanbul Air Show.
It is understood the carrier will take a mix of E190-E2 and E195-E2 aircraft, with specific numbers not confirmed at this time.
The CEO of Royal Jordanian, Samer Majali, mentioned that these aircraft will be used on routes that are within two hours of the country of Jordan.
He added that the airline’s strategic plan will further boost RJ’s position as the preferred airline in the region by offering improved connectivity to a wider network, positioning Amman as the leading gateway to the Levant.
Commenting on the deal also was Embraer’s CEO, Arjan Meijer:
“Embraer is honored to be selected by RJ to provide the next generation of regional aircraft to their fleet.”
“The E2 family of advanced-generation E-Jets offers the quietest, lowest polluting, and most fuel-efficient aircraft in the under-150-seat market. We are proud to continue our long association with Royal Jordanian.”
For Royal Jordanian, the E195-E2s will offer 12 seats in Crown Class, as well as 108 in Economy. The E190-E2s will offer 12 in Crown Class but 80 in Economy.
The Jordanian carrier is looking to increase its fleet size from 24 to 40 over the next five years in what is being seen as a major fleet expansion program.
Double Deal at Istanbul…
Embraer has achieved a double deal at the Istanbul Air Show with another order made by SalamAir of Oman for six E195-E2 aircraft, with options for an additional six.
The carrier has been operating an all-Airbus fleet up to this point, which is, while great news for Embraer, a slight worry for Airbus as it has seen its domination and personal preference for the airline diminish slightly with this order announcement, with the carrier obviously feeling the E195-E2 jets offer it more in the imidate future than the current crop of Airbus aircraft.
Captain Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir, said, “The aircraft will grow to be a core part of our fleet portfolio. It is exhilarating for us to be the first airline in the Middle East to fly the incredible E195-E2.”
“Embraer’s aircraft represents the best environmental efficiency, operating performance, and passenger comfort. The aircraft’s sophisticated aerodynamics, novel wing design, and new technologies enable its exceptional energy efficiency.”
“These aircraft are perfect for the next frontier of our growth. They will allow the airline to open new local and regional cities and increase its frequency to these destinations due to its fuel efficiency and capacity, which suits the needs of these markets.”
“The new fleet will be used on domestic flights initially, including the 4 oil fields and 4 international airports within Oman, as we receive more aircraft, we will be able to use them on regional airports in neighboring countries which today are not connected to Oman.
The new aircraft will be delivered to the carrier in a dual-class configuration with 135 seats available on each one, with the first being delivered at the end of 2023.
It is understood that the deal which has been signed today will be placed to the Q3 backlog or orders that the Brazilian manufacturer has and is estimated in value at $934.6 million US dollars, all list price with all options added.
Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, added, “It’s great to be growing in the Middle East, a region that has often focused on long-haul travel.”
“For Embraer, it is also important to see a pioneering low-cost carrier like SalamAir recognize the value that E-Jets deliver in the LCC scenario, complementing larger narrowbodies to grow and maintain networks.”
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