Guernsey-based regional carrier Aurigny Air Services has signed a firm contract with Embraer Commercial Aviation for one E195 regional jet. The transaction was announced last week at a press briefing in Salzburg at the annual general meeting of the European Regions Airline Association and confirms previous reports on the airline's growth plans.
“The acquisition of the E195 is a major step forward for our company,” said Mark Darby, chief executive officer of Aurigny Air Services. “The London Gatwick route is very important for us. We’ve been tasked by the State of Guernsey to increase capacity and upgrade the quality of our overall service so we decided to move up to a jet. The E195 was the natural choice.”
The E195 is the first jet aircraft to be added to the Aurigny Air Services fleet. The airline currently flies turboprops on six daily frequencies on its principal route between the London Gatwick Airport and Guernsey. With 122 slim seats in single-class layout, the E195 will enable the carrier to increase the number of daily flights to eight and offer much-needed additional capacity.
“The E195 has proven to be an ideal aircraft for high-volume, high-frequency markets,” said Paulo Cesar Silva, president & chief executive officer, Embraer Commercial Aviation. “I’m confident Aurigny will appreciate the E195’s low operating costs and high reliability when it introduces the jet on its flagship route.” The firm order will be included in Embraer’s 2013 third quarter backlog and delivery is scheduled for the first semester of 2014.
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