Muscat-based Oman Air is right-sizing its fleet with Embraer E-Jets. The airline announced an order for five, dual-class, 76-seat E175s at the Dubai Air Show. Deliveries are planned to begin in early 2011. Oman Air will deploy the E175s primarily on domestic routes including to Al Khasab in the north east.
The E175 is part of the airline’s modernization plan that also features enhancements to its current on-board product, new aircraft orders from both Airbus and Boeing, and new routes to Paris, Frankfurt and Munich.
With the Oman Air announcement, six airlines have ordered or are flying E-Jets in the Middle East with 38 aircraft in service:
“E-Jets have been a tremendous success in the region” according to José Luis Molina, Embraer’s VP Commercial Aviation for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. “They are transforming networks and bringing better accessibility to passengers and greater efficiency to airlines.” In fact, 78% of all E-Jets in the region are used to right-size routes by reducing capacity to better match true market demand.
“What impresses me is how all of our Middle East customers have transitioned from operationally-oriented carriers to market-focused airlines. I really believe this would not have been possible without adding E-Jets to their fleets, and it makes them better positioned for the future.”
Embraer has built a service network to support its growing customer list. There are spares warehouses in Cairo, Amman, Jeddah and Riyadh. A Full Flight Simulator is located in Jeddah. The E-Jets fleet in the Middle East is one of the most reliable in world with a 99.11% dispatch rate and 99.96% completion rate.
The Middle East is one of the few growth regions in the world. Despite the global economic downturn, IATA statistics showed a 14% year over year growth in passengers carried to May 2009. Analysts at Boeing estimate that 1,580 aircraft of all sizes will be required by Middle East carriers over the next 20 years.
Mr. Fred Curado, President & CEO, Embraer His Excellency Ahmed Macki, Minister of National Economy, Sultanate of Oman.
Mr. Mauro Kern, Executive Vice President, Airline Market, Mr. Fred Curado, H.E. Ahmed Macki, Mr. Peter Hill, CEO, Oman Air.
