Airlines Swiss Helvetic Airways announces fleet renewal

During last week’s Farnborough Air Show, the Swiss regional airline Helvetic Airways has announced to renew its fleet with up to 24 Embraer E2 aircraft. The carrier has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) for 12 E190-E2 and options for a further 12, with conversion rights to the E195-E2. If all options are taken, the deal has a list price of USD 1.5 billion.

The first 12 E190-E2 aircraft will begin replacing Helvetic’s five Fokker 100s and seven Embraer E190s, starting in late 2019 and completing in autumn 2021. The purchase options for a further 12 aircraft (E190-E2 or E195-E2) will enable Helvetic Airways to grow according to market opportunities.

Tobias Pogorevc, CEO of Helvetic Airways, said, “Our existing Embraer fleet is performing with excellent dispatch rates and our Fokker 100s have been very productive in the last 12 years. However, with the new E2 family, Helvetic will consolidate its highly reliable operation with the quietest and most efficient next generation aircraft available. Furthermore, moving from the current E190 to the E2 fleet will be simple for our well-trained pilots as only two and half days of ‘non-simulator’ transition training is needed.”

If all options are transferred into orders, the carrier could double its current fleet of twelve aircraft in the next years. Helvetic Airways operates own flights as well as flights on behalf of Swiss International Air Lines. Nine aircraft are currently operated for Swiss in its regional network.

The Embraer E-Jet E2 family is the successor of the current E-Jet generation. The ordered E190-E2 offers 114 seats in a 29-inch configuration. The current Helvetic Airways aircraft are configured with 112 (E-190) and 100 seats (Fokker100).