The president of Aerolíneas Argentinas, Pablo Ceriani, traveled today to São Paulo accompanied by a delegation from the economic-financial and air policy sector of the company, and representatives of the Association of Airline Pilots (APLA) to advance the details of the renewal of the Embraer fleet.
At the end of July, the state company officially opened the process for the tender for the acquisition of 12 Embraer E195-E2 with a capacity for 136 passengers, with an RFP aimed at suppliers interested in these jets, with delivery scheduled between 2024 and 2026.
According to that document, Aerolíneas Argentinas expressed its intention to receive two E195-E2 in 2024, five in 2025, and five in 2026.
Sources close to Aviacionline confirmed that the reason for this trip is to advance the renewal of the E190 fleet and finalize details of the initial agreement with Embraer for the new planes. Precisely today, according to the RFP, was the deadline for the submission of proposals.
Modernization and Fleet Expansion
Aerolíneas Argentinas seeks to take advantage of the supplier to renew its regional aircraft fleet, thus expanding route options. The company currently owns a fleet of 26 Embraer E190-E1, some of which will be replaced by the new E195-E2.
In February of this year, the CEO of Aerolíneas Argentinas, Pablo Ceriani, told Aviacionline that the company was looking for both E195-E2 and Airbus A330-900 to modernize and update the fleet. This step is the first in a plan that could be a significant move for the airline and the manufacturer, securing another major E2 customer in the region.
Later, in June, during the 79th Annual General Assembly of IATA held in Istanbul, and asked by Aviacionline about the feasibility of these projects in the face of a possible change of government (which even took on another nuance after last Sunday’s primary elections) and therefore of management in the company, Ceriani said that the current board has been working on documenting the support of all decisions that are made, not leaving much room for too many alterations in Aerolíneas Argentinas‘ business plan and thus continue to have continuity.
“Everything is done following industry practices and seeking to meet the market, and if we did not advance in that sense, we would be left without an offer to meet the demand that the company has, and any administration that comes will find the same reality, so there should not be significant changes“, he concluded on this subject.
