Madagascar Airlines has signed a leasing contract for three Embraer E190-E2 aircraft with lessor Azorra. The first aircraft will join the airline's fleet next year, while the other two are expected to arrive in 2024. The new aircraft will not only help strengthen the airline’s domestic routes but also help with international expansion.
According to Embraer, a rightsized E2 can deliver 25.4% better fuel efficiency per seat and up to 10% better fuel burn than its competitors. It believes that airlines can reduce carbon emissions by as much as 30% if they carefully strategize their fleet development by replacing some of the larger, less efficient airplanes with the rightsized E2. Besides recently the E190-E2 received type certification in China.
Apart from the Embraer deal, Madagascar Airlines also appointed a new CEO, Thierry de Bailleul. Prior to joining Madagascar, Thierry worked for Air France, KLM, Emirates, and, most recently, Vice-President sales Europe for Qatar Airways. He has decades of experience in the airline industry.
With the new CEO and new Embraer jets, the airline hopes to expand its operations and cover up the pandemic losses.
Meanwhile, Azzora had signed a firm order of 20 new E190-E2/E195-E2-family aircraft with the option of another 30 in January 2022 at $3.9bn.