The E2 is the best performer in its class in both performance and economics and has what it takes to deliver real value to airlines, Raul Villaron, Head of Embraer Commercial Aviation in Asia Pacific, tells Daily News Editor Jay Menon on the sidelines of the second edition of Vietnam International Aviation Expo (VIAE2022).
Commercial aviation is Embraer’s biggest business. In Southeast Asia, how is the company battling the competition?
Embraer has more than 200 aircraft in the APAC region, and in the last two years, essentially during the height of the COVID challenges, 45 E-Jets were added to the region. We welcomed new operators. Regional jets have demonstrated its importance, especially when the market was full of uncertainties, enabling airlines to maintain or regain connectivity in a calculated way. Matching capacity to demand is and will always be crucial for airlines’ sustainable growth, and we see that this notion is gaining support in the region more than ever.
We believe that regional jets is a crucial tool in expanding networks, improving connectivity, and driving economic and sustainable growth for countries as well as the entire aviation industry chain. In addition to that, the reliability of the E-Jets truly stands out. The 12-month average schedule reliability of the E-Jet fleet in the region stands at 99.94% Completion Rate (CR).
How optimistic are you about achieving success with the new E-Jet E2 family in the Asia-Pacific?
The E2 was built on the massive incumbency achieved by the E1, and we see opportunities for the E2s in APAC. Airlines demand the best in performance and economics from the aircraft it operates, and we are confident that the E2 is the best performer on both fronts and has what it takes to deliver value to the airlines.
The efficiency of the E2 family of jets is unbeatable and this has given us the extra advantage globally. It enables us to compete on the low cost per seat metric that is dominant in the Asia Pacific region, unlocking a huge market for us.
The E195-E2 is as cost efficient than a 180-seat large narrow-body aircraft on a per seat basis and delivers around 25% lower operating cost. In addition, being a lighter aircraft, the E195-E2 displays excellent performance, lower maintenance costs and better fuel efficiency. Airlines may now have a fleet of E2s that offer the lowest cost per trip and cost per seat on par with the Neo or MAX. This is a major game changer for airlines, and we are certain that both customers and the market will gain from it.
Given today’s business challenges, such as high fuel costs, heavy debt, and pressure to reduce variable and fixed expenditures, a 25% reduction in operational costs is substantial. This makes the E2 an ideal asset.
Do you think regional aircraft, below 100 seats or below 70 or 80 seats, are really going to be as popular in Asia as in the U.S?
In our recent 20-year market outlook, we foresee a global demand of 10,950 new aircraft with a capacity of up to 150 seats. Of this, 3190 units will stem from the APAC region.
Asia figures prominently in Embraer’s push for new markets. What are the plans for Vietnam in particular and other South East Asian nations in general.?
In April, the Embraer E190-E2 was in Vietnam for a three-day tour where it demonstrated to representatives of Vietnam’s aviation community its fuel-efficiency, minimal noise emissions and short runway performance. Embraer also released its White Paper on the future of Vietnam’s aviation scene. Titled “Vietnam’s Connectivity Potential”, Embraer shares its market insights on how regional jets can enable airlines to enhance Vietnam’s air connectivity within the country and beyond. The paper also illustrates how regional jets will enable alternate ways of National Budget allocation to focus on post-pandemic recovery.
The E-Jets that have been operating in Vietnam since 2020 have improved connectivity in the country, such as the establishment of a direct Hanoi-Côn Đảo connection and the first jet service from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Điện Biên Phủ. It has been deployed in regional airports, including those with shortened and lighter runways. In August 2022, Bamboo Airways launched a new route from Hanoi to Siem Reap in which the E190s were deployed.
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