Singapore Airlines’ low-cost subsidiary, Scoot, has selected the Embraer E190-E2 model to unlock growth in the region.
On 23 May, the SIA carrier confirmed a previous letter of intent for nine E190-E2s to join Scoot’s fleet in a lease arrangement with lessor Azorra.
The first delivery of the E190-E2, which will feature 112 seats, is scheduled for delivery in 2024. The remaining eight aircraft will be progressively delivered through 2025.
The aircraft will come from Azorra’s existing backlog with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, an Airbus and Boeing competitor.
These will be the first Embraer E2-family aircraft at a Southeast Asian airline.
SIA’s Scoot plans to deploy the E190-E2s on thinner routes from its Singapore hub to second- and third-tier destinations in the region.
Scoot also operates 20 widebody Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on its longer and higher-capacity flights, as well as currently just under 40 Airbus A320-family jets on its regional hops.
“The agreement to include nine new E190-E2 aircraft in our fleet allows us to continue operating a modern and fuel-efficient fleet, and support our network growth strategy by serving thinner routes to non-metro destinations out of Singapore. As the first Singaporean carrier to operate the E2s, we are excited to be working with our partners at Embraer to improve our network connectivity and increase travel options for our customers,” said Leslie Thng, Scoot’s Chief Executive Officer.
“We are thrilled to support Scoot and its exciting expansion plan to serve more short and medium haul flights across Southeast Asia”, said John Evans, lessor Azorra’s CEO. “Scoot’s selection of the E2 is a resounding endorsement of Embraer’s E2 product line and the crossover segment. With the addition of E2s, Scoot becomes the first Singapore-based airline to operate crossover aircraft, demonstrating the emerging capacity rationalization trend amongst operators globally.”
Arjan Meijer, CEO Embraer Commercial Aviation, added: “We welcome Scoot as the region’s first major operator of the E2. The team at our APAC headquarters in Singapore is proud to support the airline in its quest to enhance connectivity and growth in the region, supporting the further development of its Singapore hub. This is the value the E2 brings to airlines – complementing larger narrowbodies to grow and maintain networks. Passengers will enjoy the unique comfort of Embraer’s signature two by two seat configuration and modern interior. Work is already underway to prepare for the aircraft’s entry into service.”
The E190-E2 is part of Embraer’s latest E-Jets E2 family of commercial jets, which entered into service in 2018. Airlines such as KLM, Porter, and Azul operate the E-Jets E2 family of aircraft, and new operators, including Royal Jordanian, Salam Air and TUI, were recently announced.
The E190-E2 and the E195-E2 was designed using the 20 million hours of experience the first generation of E-Jets accrued, ensuring that the E2 aircraft are modern and advanced, yet retain the maturity and reliability of the previous generation aircraft.
The first-generation E-Jet is one of the most successful commercial jets in the industry and continues to operate across the globe, with more than 80 airlines across 50 countries and more than 1,700 units delivered.
