Air TransportAirlink Takes Delivery of First Embraer E195-E2
South African carrier Airlink has received its first Embraer E195-E2, the debut of the new-generation jet in the airline’s fleet.
The aircraft, registered ZS-ARF (MSN 19020190), departed Embraer’s factory in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, on September 22 and flew 6,317 km to Cape Town. After a technical stop, it continued to Johannesburg the following day. The first leg lasted 7 hours and 58 minutes, according to FlightRadar24.
The aircraft is the first of 10 E195-E2s to be delivered to Airlink under a leasing agreement with Azorra. Deliveries will take place between late 2025 and 2027. Entry into service of ZS-ARF is expected in the coming weeks.
Airlink currently operates an all-Embraer fleet of 70 aircraft: 29 E190s, six E195s, four E175s, three E170s, eleven ERJ140s and 17 ERJ145s. The new E2s will have 136 seats in a single-class layout, compared to 107 seats in the two-class E195s already in service.
“It is an exciting and daunting moment for Airlink. 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, but I have no doubt that the Airlink team will deliver, as they always do,” commented recently Airlink CEO Villiers Engelbrecht.
The E195-E2 is Embraer’s largest commercial aircraft, seating up to 146 passengers. It features new-generation engines, redesigned wings and lower fuel consumption than the first-generation E-Jets.
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