Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer delivered today its first Embraer 190 to American airline JetBlue Airways during a ceremony held at the company’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.
JetBlue has placed firm orders for 101 Embraer 190s and expects to take delivery of approximately 18 of the new aircraft each year between 2005 and 2011. JetBlue service with its first E-Jet is expected to begin in November.
“Quality engineering and manufacturing, with a focus on economy, performance and comfort places our E-Jets in a class of their own – one that opens new opportunities for operators to effectively meet demand for markets suitable for jets with seating capacity ranging from 70 to 110,” said Frederico Curado, Embraer Executive Vice-President, Civil Aircraft.
“JetBlue’s move to expand their innovative product and low fares to more destinations using our Embraer 190 is solid evidence that our E-Jets are indeed capable to meet the increasingly challenging market needs.”
“Today is a day JetBlue customers and crew members have been looking forward to for years,” said JetBlue’s CEO David Neeleman. “As I look at this beautiful new aircraft I see many new opportunities to bring the JetBlue experience to communities all over North America.
“With all-leather seats (and none of them a middle one), 100 channels of XM Satellite Radio, 36 channels of free DirecTV, and FoxPremium Entertainment, I am confident this aircraft will turn heads everywhere it lands.”
JetBlue’s Embraer 190 aircraft are configured with 100 leather seats in a two-by-two layout and a comfortable 33-32 inch pitch in one single class that ensures all customers an aisle or a window seat with easy access and movement throughout the cabin.
JetBlue E-Jets are equipped with its customary in-seat entertainment system, featuring large 6.8 inch video screens, 36 channels of DirecTV and up to 100 channels of XM Satellite Radio and, on flights longer than two hours, a selection of movies on Fox InFlight Premium Entertainment.
The 100-seat Embraer 190 received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification Sept. 2, 2005, three days after certification was awarded by Brazil’s Centro Técnico Aeroespacial (CTA).
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) are expected to certify the Embraer 190 soon. The Embraer 190 is the third in Embraer’s four- member E-Jets family to receive type certification.
The Embraer 170/190 family has logged 412 firm orders and 373 options as of June 30, 2005. There were 177 Embraer 190s on firm order as of the first half of 2005.
Embraer is the world’s leading manufacturer of Commercial jets up to 110 seats with 36 years of experience in designing, developing, manufacturing, selling and providing after sales support to aircraft for the global Airline, Defense and Business jet markets.
With headquarters in São José dos Campos, state of São Paulo, the Company has offices and customer service bases in the United States, France, Portugal, China and Singapore.
Embraer is among Brazil’s leading exporting companies. As of June 30, 2005, Embraer had a total workforce of 16,878 people, and its firm order backlog totaled US$ 10.9 billion.
Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica S.A. – www.embraer.com.br