Virgin Blue Adds E-170s, E-190s To Order

Embraer told ANN Monday that Australia’s Virgin Blue Airlines has exercised options on three Embraer 170 jets, and taken three more Embraer 190 purchase rights, thus complementing its former order announced on November 2, 2006, and increasing its firm order backlog to 20 E-Jets.

"Some four months ago, we were honored by Virgin Blue’s first order of 14 E-Jets, as the first scheduled airline in Australia to operate our modern and efficient commercial jets," stated Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer Executive Vice-President, Airline Market. "Today, we expand this relationship and expect it to continue for many years. I am certain that Virgin Blue has chosen the most suitable aircraft for its operations and that it will enjoy strong acceptance from its customers and sound economic results."

"Virgin Blue chose the E-Jets as the ideal aircraft for its needs, as the company continues to evolve. The aircraft will bring increased capability for matching seat offerings to demand in a developing network," said Brett Godfrey, CEO of Virgin Blue. "This added flexibility initially provides a range of new operating opportunities in Australia and, potentially, for short haul routes to New Zealand and the South Pacific islands."

Virgin Blue’s Embraer 170 jets will have 78 seats in a single-class layout. First delivery is scheduled for the second semester of 2007. The Australian airline’s Embraer 190 jets will be configured with 104 seats, also in a single-class cabin, and will be the first of this model to have the ETOPS (Extended-range Twin-engine Operations) rating. They are scheduled to go into service in the first half of 2008.

The ETOPS rating allows twin-engine aircraft to operate direct routes over uninhabited regions, such as oceans and deserts, with acceptable safety margins should one engine become inoperable while in flight.

The first E-Jets delivery occurred in March 2004. As of December 31, 2006, Embraer had logged 619 firm orders and 568 options for the Embraer 170/190 family, with 209 jets flying in the colors of 20 airlines in 16 countries worldwide.

FMI: www.embraer.com, www.virginblue.com.au