iscover
Virgin Australia has unveiled the interiors for its new Embraer E190-E2 regional jets.
The aircraft, which will replace Virgin Australia Regional Airlines’ (VARA) ageing Fokker 100s, will be laid out in a dual-class configuration with business and economy seats, as well as its extra-legroom Economy X product. The first of its eight E190-E2s has begun construction this month.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
VARA executive general manager Nathan Miller said the E190-E2 is expected to enter service in Western Australia from around October this year.
“We have the flexibility to use the aircraft for regular commercial operations on the days of the week when there is less charter demand and leisure traffic is higher,” he said.
“We have had very positive feedback since we announced the acquisition of these aircraft, especially as these will be the first brand-new aircraft in the WA charter market this century. Our customers are excited about the two-plus-two layout in our economy cabin, which means there are no middle seats.
“There is enough room in the cabin for every guest to have a bag in the overhead bin. The seats are more spacious than the outgoing Fokker 100s, which gives our guests an improved flying experience.”
According to Miller, the E190-E2 is the most fuel-efficient aircraft, with the lowest noise profile, in its segment, and will reduce emissions by around 30 per cent compared to the Fokker 100s.
“Maintenance training for the new aircraft is underway here in Perth, and we will soon commence pilot training at Embraer’s training facility in Singapore, as well as cabin crew training. We have also commenced recruitment for new pilot and support roles for the E2,” he said.
“From a network and scheduling perspective, we have been planning how to best utilise the aircraft to support both charter and commercial flying.
“The first aircraft will operate primarily on our current charter routes and to the intra-WA commercial passenger airports we service, but there is definitely growth opportunity as the fleet grows.”
The aircraft, to be based in Perth and used for Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, will be the first E190-E2s to be operated by a major airline group in Australia, though various carriers including QantasLink, Alliance, and National Jet Express operate the original E190.
The first four will enter service over the next 12 months, with the other four to come later.
