Embraer has signed a firm order of four EMBRAER 190s jets with Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), the national carrier of Azerbaijan, said in a statement posted on the company's website.
Deliveries are planned to start in the third quarter of 2013. The total value of the deal is USD 180.8 million, at list price, which will be included in Embraer's fourth quarter of 2012 backlog.
AZAL has also purchased from Embraer, through its wholly-owned subsidiary ECC leasing, two pre-owned EMBRAER 170s, the first of which will be delivered in the second quarter of 2013. By the end of next year, six E-Jets will be flying in AZAL's domestic and international networks from Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD), the carrier's main base at Baku, Azerbaijan capital.
"The Azerbaijan Airlines order increase Embraer presence in Eastern Europe, a region where we see a strong potential for the E-Jets to help airlines efficiently renew their fleets and open new routes," said Paulo Cesar Silva, Embraer President & CEO, Commercial Aviation. "Azerbaijan geographical strategic position offers excellent potential for developing air links with Europe/CIS, the Middle East and Asia. With both the E170 and E190, AZAL will have the flexibility to grow with an ideal combination of frequency and seat capacity that only the E-Jets family can offer."
AZAL is introducing E-Jets as part of a fleet renewal strategy that includes replacement of its turboprop fleet. The carrier will configure its E170s and E190s in single class with 76 and 106 Elite seats, respectively. The aircraft will enable the airline to increase frequencies between Baku and Nakhchievan and to introduce new local and international services to cities such as Odessa, Volgograd, Sochi, Donestsk and others.
"The EMBRAER 190 is the ideal aircraft for the speed and range we need to open new routes. It's a really versatile airplane that will give us the ability to fly to both domestic and international markets where we see strong growth potential," said Jahangir Askerov, President and Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC. "And with the EMBRAER 170, we can better match seat capacity to variations in demand across the network. The commonality of the two airplanes is a tremendous benefit, too."
Azerbaijan Airlines becomes the 25th E-Jet customer in Europe. AZAL also joins a growing list of customers in Eastern Europe and Central Asia that have identified E-Jets as their aircraft of choice: AeroSvit, Air Astana, Air Moldova, Belavia, Bulgaria Air, Dniproavia, Estonian Air, LOT Polish, and Montenegro Airlines.