South African regional airline Airlink has finalised a lease agreement with US-based lessor Azorra for ten new Embraer E195-E2 jets.
The aircraft, which will seat up to 136 passengers, are scheduled for delivery later this year through 2027. The order marks a fleet expansion for the Johannesburg-headquartered carrier, which currently operates 68 aircraft.
“It is an exciting and daunting moment for Airlink," commented the airline's CEO, de Villiers Engelbrech. “Exciting because it heralds the next phase of Airlink’s development and growth as the leading regional airline in Southern Africa and now possibly beyond. Daunting, as there is a lot to do in the weeks ahead before the first aircraft enters service, hopefully in December this year.”
The new aircraft will be deployed on high-density routes and open opportunities to launch services to underserved destinations in the region, according to the airline.
“This is an exciting step forward in our partnership with Airlink,” said Azorra CEO John Evans. “The addition of the E195-E2 highlights our shared commitment to operational efficiency, sustainable growth, and increased capacity.”
Embraer has been pushing to grow its E2 footprint in Africa, where regional connectivity is constrained by infrastructure limitations and distance.
In February, Airlink signed a spare parts inventory support agreement with Embraer, covering the carrier's all-Embraer fleet.
The agreement will see Airlink become the first African customer for the customised Embraer collaborative inventory planning (ECIP) management system, which will optimise its inventory levels and reduce its operational cost for its fleet of ERJ and E-jets.