Yesterday, it was announced that BA CityFlyer’s 10 Avro RJ100s and two RJ85s will be replaced with E-Jets. British Airways has ordered six E170s and five E190SRs, with options for three more E190s. The aircraft will be used out of London City (LCY). It was mentioned in the press release that the lower emissions and greater fuel efficiency of these aircraft compared to the Avros was one of the main factors in the order.
I’m going to announce my total ignorance here – the 190SR? On the specifications page on the Embraer website, I see the AR, LR, and STD versions. Can anyone provide some more information on this variant?
Interestingly – if British Airways chooses not the exercise those options for additional E190s, capacity in terms of seats will be down about 26%. (That is, if the seat counts on BA CityFlyer’s Wikipedia page are correct. 
) If they do, capacity will grow a bit.
The first E170 will be delivered in the second half of 2009. The E190 needs to receive steep approach certification to operate out of London City (which the E170 obtained in 2007), though the Embraer press release reports that the aircraft is “undergoing a series of engineering evaluation tests with a view to receiving its steep approach certification by the end of 2009.”
Anyway, it will be a shame to see the Avros go away – I do think it is pretty cool to see a regional jet with four engines. Sadly, I don’t think I will every be able to ride one of them, as I think all of them are gone from commercial service in the US.
Sorry for the late post! I started it early this morning as usual but the day just ran away from me. Southwest announced a partnership with Mexican carrier Volaris today. I’ll write on that tomorrow. Now to today’s regularly-scheduled post:
This was a story from last week but I still wanted to cover it. Reuters reports:
Brazil’s Embraer is considering whether to develop a slightly bigger commercial plane to target a market niche in between regional jets and the larger airliners made by Boeing Co. and Airbus, a company executive said on Tuesday.
From reading the article it seems that Embraer is thinking of an aircraft in the size range of the CSeries, and I think the sales of that aircraft will affect what Embraer does. So far, only Lufthansa has made anything resembling a committment for that aircraft.
Personally I would love to see Embraer make an aircraft that would directly compete with the 737 and A320 families rather than be in between RJs and those aircraft, simply because it would mean more competition. If there were three (or four) companies competing in this area I think there would be some very interesting results. I think the other vendors are aware of this. This is pure speculation on my part, but look at this paragraph from the news article:
In a news conference in Sao Paulo on Monday, Airbus Chief Executive Thomas Enders said that the European manufacturer was open to developing a plane with Embraer in the future. Enders was scheduled to visit Embraer’s main factory in Sao Jose dos Campos on Tuesday.
But I also think if Embrarer were to make an aircraft for that market it would be in good shape. Right now Boeing and Airbus are busy working on the 787, 747-8, and A350 (respectively). Embraer could try to enter the market before Boeing and Airbus release their replacements. At the same time, that run the risks that Boeing’s and Airbus’ new aircraft could be more technologically advanced.
But again, just my thinking. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing how Embraer and Brazil grow in the future. I really do think Brazil is one of the most exciting emerging markets out there.
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