Brazil’s Azul, already the world’s largest operator of the current generation Embraer 195, will be the launch operator of the re-engined E195-E2.

“Azul played a key role in the E195-E2 development, actively participating in the design specification of the aircraft and helping Embraer design the most efficient single-aisle aircraft in the market today,” says John Slattery, Embraer commercial aviation president and chief executive.

“The significance of having Azul aboard the E2 programme and to now identifying them the launch operator can be summarised in two words: trust and partnership.”

The Brazilian carrier has an order for up to 50 E195-E2s, comprising 30 firm orders and 20 purchase rights. The airline will configure its new aircraft in a single-class layout with 130 seats.

Embraer is targetting to deliver the first E195-E2 in the first half of 2019.

Azul has 73 E-Jets in service. Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that 64 of these are E195s.

Source: Cirium Dashboard