Air TransportSouth African Airlink received third Embraer E195-E2 after record flight
South African carrier Airlink received its third Embraer E195-E2 after the aircraft completed the longest recorded flight for the typesince its entry into service in 2018.
The jet, registered ZS-LKA, flew 3,996 nautical miles (7,400 km) non-stop between São José dos Campos and Johannesburg, 21% more than the normal range of the E195-E2 (3,300 nautical miles or 5,556 km).
The E195-E2, delivered under a leasing contract with Azorra, operated the route between Brazil and South Africa on a direct flight, marking an operational milestone for the model.
According to Embraer, the fuel consumption during the crossing remained below 1,350 kg per hour, a figure attributed to the design of the new generation of engines and the redesign of the jet’s wings – it is worth noting that the aircraft flew with minimal cargo during the transfer.
The second generation of E-Jets incorporated technical improvements such as Pratt & Whitney GTF engines and more efficient wings to offer lower fuel consumption and greater range. Recently, Embraer revealed new enhancements to provide even better performance.
Entire fleet of Embraer jets
Airlink, a regional airline born from a partnership with South African Airways (SAA), has grown in recent years in the wake of the former state partner’s financial crisis. Its fleet consists exclusively of Embraer aircraft, totaling 70 jets, including 29 E190s, 6 E195s, 4 E175s, 3 E170s, 11 ERJ140s, and 17 ERJ145s.
Therefore, the choice of the E2 to complement its flight network was a natural path. The contract signed with Azorra includes the delivery of a total of ten E195-E2s by 2027.
Each E195-E2 will be configured with 136 seats in a single class, aligning with the proposal to increase seat availability and efficiency on regional routes in southern Africa.
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