Industry Embraer signs agreement with Air Kiribati for 4 E190-E2

Air Kiribati will receive two Embraer E190-E2 aircraft and furthermore holds options to acquire two more. If all four aircraft are being taken up, the deal has a value of US$ 243 million according to current list prices.

Deliveries of the aircraft will commence in 2019. Air Kiribati is planning to use the E190-E2s to fly longer international and domestic routes than before. Currently, the airline flies with turboprop aircraft, which were designed for the regional aviation market. The versatility of the E2 will help the flag-carrier to gain more revenue.

Air Kiribati is furthermore the launch operator for the E190-E2 in the Asia Pacific region. Recently, Embraer performed a world tour with one of its E190-E2 testbed aircraft. The company included a stop in Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati as well.

“We were impressed with what we saw when the E190-E2 visited Kiribati in October,” said Hon. Willie Tokataake, Minister for Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development of the Kiribati Government. “[...] The E190-E2’s capabilities empower us to enhance connectivity within our country and beyond, taking our nation to its next phase of growth.”

Cesar Pereira, Asia Pacific Vice President, Embraer Commercial Aviation added: “We warmly welcome Air Kiribati to the Embraer family and we will work closely with the airline as they transition to the E190-E2 through our extensive entry-into-service package and world-class support team in the region [...] Flying in the Pacific, over large bodies of water, requires outstanding range, performance and ample cargo capacity. Air Kiribati’s selection of the E190-E2 is yet another validation of the world’s most efficient single-aisle jet design, which exceeds these requirements and will enable the airline to enhance its flight frequency and to boost its network.”

Embraer´s latest commercial aircraft series, the E2, consists of the E190-E2 and the E195-E2. Currently, the E190-E2 is flying with Wideroe and Air Astana. Air Kiribati will be benefiting from the 2,850nm range, as it will be able to conduct the most challenging routes in the Pacific. A stopover in Fiji will also be possible with the new aircraft. The E190-E2 can seat up to 114 passengers in a standard configuration.

Air Kiribati is the national airline of Kiribati and has an operational hub at Bonriki International Airport. It was founded back in 1995 and the current fleet consists of one Dash 8-100 aircraft. Previously, the carrier also flew with ATR 72 turboprop aircraft. Air Kiribati connects all Gilbert Islands with domestic flights, but also flies to Fiji.