Japan’s population decline will prompt ANA to replace Boeing 737 with Embraer E190-E2
Once intended to fill the gap between the Dash 8 turboprops and Boeing 737s, All Nippon Airways’ (ANA) E190-E2 fleet will have a different mission, replacing narrow-body models on domestic routes in Japan.
The new operational profile of Embraer’s aircraft was revealed by Shinichi Inoue, the airline’s CEO, during the IATA General Assembly in New Delhi.
And the reason for this is unusual: with 100 seats, the E190-E2s are expected to take over flights from the 166-seat 737s where demand is falling due to Japan’s population decline.
Last year alone, the non-foreign population fell by 898,000 people, reaching 120.3 million in October. Japan’s birth rate is one of the lowest in the world, causing social and economic problems.
Inoue said ANA will have to be flexible to adapt to demand and that is why it considered the Brazilian regional jet.
Alternative to the end of the SpaceJet
In February, Japan’s largest carrier announced a large order for 77 aircraft from Airbus, Boeing and Embraer.
20 E190-E2s were ordered with options for 15 more aircraft, which will be delivered from 2028.
All Nippon wanted, however, to rely on the SpaceJet, a regional jet developed by Mitsubishi Aircraft, but the program succumbed to the high cost and problems in certifying it, frustrating an initiative that aimed to put the country back in the commercial aircraft market.
The airline had the alternative of eliminating routes where the Boeing 737 did not fit, but preferred to maintain the existing frequencies for as long as possible, the CEO said.
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