E-Jet Debuts In Sub-Saharan Africa

Brazilian planemaker Embraer delivered the first Embraer 190 jet this week, to the privately owned Nigerian flag carrier Virgin Nigeria.

The aircraft will accommodate 96 passengers in a dual-class layout, with 12 first-class and 84 Elite seats, In a first for the region, the aircraft also features a state-of-the-art In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) system, with individual TV screens at each seat.

"It's an honor to welcome a new Embraer 190 operator in Sub-Saharan Africa," said Mauro Kern, Embraer Executive Vice President, Airline Market. "We are very happy to support Virgin Nigeria, one of the youngest and most energetic carriers in Africa, with the superior contribution of the E-Jets, as it unfolds its expansion plans into the western and central areas of the continent."

The Embraer 190 is the first E-Jet delivered to Virgin Nigeria, and it will assist the airline's growing domestic and regional network, by providing the right capacity for current routes. The aircraft will also be used to develop international markets, feeding the Lagos hub for its long-haul operations.

"Our commitment is to give customers more value for their money. We are proud to be the first carrier to introduce this technologically advanced aircraft in the African Sub-Saharan region," said Conrad Clifford, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Nigeria. "We believe the Embraer E-Jets will give us the edge over the competition, enabling us to offer our clients superior standards and, with the different sizes and high commonality, to match seat capacity and frequency to passenger demand network-wide, without compromising operational efficiency."

Virgin Nigeria's Embraer 190 is equipped with the i4500 In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) system supplied by Thales Avionics (USA). As the aircraft enters service, passengers flying short-haul routes will have the opportunity to watch movies, as well as Nigerian and foreign programs, or select from a wide range of music channels.

FMI: www.embraer.com, www.virginnigeria.com