Virgin Australia has placed a firm order with Embraer for eight E190-E2 small narrowbody aircraft as part of its fleet renewal plan.
The carrier said the aircraft will be used for the growth of its Western Australia (WA)-based regional and charter business, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA).
The E190-E2s will complement VARA’s fleet of larger narrowbodies and ultimately replace its long-serving Fokker 100 fleet. It will also be part of a renewal program that includes the acquisition of new Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft and the refurbishment of the airline’s existing 737 fleet.
Virgin Australia said the new aircraft will support the creation of 150 new, WA-based jobs in the VARA business over the next three years.
According to Embraer, the order will be reflected in its Q3 backlog and deliveries are scheduled to begin in the second half of 2025.
Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said the order is an indication of the airline’s confidence in its charter business and the market in Western Australia.
“When the first new E190-E2 enters service from October 2025, it will become the first brand new aircraft in the WA charter market this century,” Hrdlicka said in a statement.
“The E190-E2 is the most fuel-efficient aircraft in its segment and will reduce emissions by about 30 per cent compared to the outgoing F100. These aircraft also feature significantly lower noise profiles and enhanced passenger comfort. When the E190-E2 joins the fleet from late next year it will predominantly operate charter flights for VARA, bolstering its position as a leading operator in the WA charter market,” Hrdlicka added.
The E190-E2’s enhanced aerodynamics, novel wing design, and new technologies deliver significant improvements in carbon emissions and fuel burn. It has been certified to fly with blends of up to 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and has demonstrated through test flights the engine’s compatibility with 100% SAF.