In a press release issued today, Brazilian carrier Azul Linhas Aéreas announced that it will retire 12 Embraer E195-E1 aircraft from its fleet by the end of next year.
As part of Azul’s fleet transformation plan, the number of operational Embraer E195-E1 aircraft will be reduced by 22 units compared to 2019 (40% fewer units available).
Three years ago, it had a total of 55 Embraer E195-E1s. The company expects to end this year with 37 aircraft and retire another four in 2023. The arrival of new 136-passenger Embraer E195-E2s will replace the retired aircraft. In 2019, Azul became the launch customer for the Embraer E195-E2, the largest of the three members of the E-Jets E2 family of jets.
According to the company, the exit of the aircraft is explained by the recently negotiated sale of five units to leasing company Azorra Aviaton, the termination of the lease agreement for four aircraft and the conversion of three others to freighter version.
“The exit of the E1s gives us the opportunity to advance the delivery of next-generation E2, further expanding our margins given the E2’s 26% lower seat cost compared to the E1”, said Alex Malfitani, the airline’s CFO. “This also confirms our position as the airline with the youngest, most fuel-efficient fleet in the region”, he said.
See also: Azul’ first Airbus A350 arrived in Belo Horizonte
