Virgin Blue, who until now has only operated aircraft with 150 seats or more on its route network, has ordered 11 Embraer 190 and three 170 series regional jets with options for an extra six. First deliveries will be next year. The deal represents a AU$950m ($735m) list price commitment for 14 Embraer 170 series regional jets.
Just over 50% owned by the Patrick Corporation and 25% by the Virgin Group, Virgin Blue began operations in August and today operates 53 Boeing 737 aircraft flying to 22 Australian and eight international destinations including New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands.
The Brazilian jets, the first of their type to operate scheduled services in the Australasian region, will give the Virgin Blue Group significant additional operating flexibility, while increasing efficiency through lower fuel burn. Both aircraft types will be fitted with leather Elite seats, the widest economy seat offered worldwide on a single aisle aircraft. Virgin Blue will configure its jets in a single class, 2+2 seat layout.
”This acquisition is a key step-change for Virgin Blue under our New World Carrier strategy announced last year,” said CEO Brett Godfrey.
”Our current fleet of Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft provides sufficient capacity to serve key routes in the Australian, trans-Tasman and Pacific Island markets. However it is not optimal on all markets,” said Mr Godfrey.
”This new jet will enhance our ability to serve the corporate market by more accurately matching seat capacity and frequency to passenger demand.
”We believe the Embraer E-jet family provides jets with large capabilities, which will enable us to operate the right sized aircraft, not only for specific routes, but for specific days and even particular times of the day and night.”
”Virgin Blue will have the ability to complement and ”right size” our operations and we are currently considering a range of operating possibilities which are yet to be confirmed," added Mr Godfrey.
The Embraer 190s ordered by Virgin Blue have a maximum range of 2,300 nautical miles (or 4,260 kms) enabling them to fly with a full payload from Sydney to anywhere in Australia”or beyond to New Zealand and a range of destinations throughout the Pacific. The Embraer 190 seating configuration can range from 98 to 114 seats.
The smaller Embraer 170 has less range whilst Trans Tasman can operate from Sydney to anywhere on Australia”s eastern seaboard, as far north as Darwin, or from Adelaide or central Australia to Perth, as well as from eastern Australia to New Zealand and parts of the Pacific.