Helvetic Airways welcomes its third latest-generation Embraer E190-E2
Swiss regional airline Helvetic Airways took formal delivery of its third Embraer E190-E2, HB-AZC, at Zurich Airport yesterday (Monday) evening.
The third member of Helvetic Airways’ new Embraer E190 -E2 aircraft fleet arrived in Zurich on schedule on Monday evening at 22:28 Swiss local time. HB-AZC had crossed the Atlantic in a little over 11 hours, following the now-traditional delivery route with intermediate stops in Recife (Brazil) and Las Palmas (Spain).
Far lower fuel consumption and highly reliable technology
After four months in service, Helvetic Airways’ first two Embraer E190-E2s have fulfilled all their Brazilian manufacturer’s simulation-based promises in performance terms. In fact, their lower fuel consumption of almost 20% is well below Embraer’s simulation results and projections, and fully meets Helvetic’s expectations. With its new aircraft technologies, the E190-E2 has also proved extremely dependable in Helvetic service, with a technical reliability approaching 99%.
These positive initial experiences have further convinced Helvetic Airways of the rightness of its fleet equipment strategy. The new Embraer E190-E2s will also enable the Swiss airline to achieve its medium-term objective of operating Europe’s most advanced and ecofriendly regional aircraft fleet by 2021.
Ongoing fleet renewal
HB-AZC should enter revenue service as early as Wednesday 26 February, operating flights within Europe on SWISS’s behalf. Its arrival brings the Helvetic Airways fleet to 14 aircraft: eleven Embraer E190-E1s and three E190-E2s.
The delivery schedule for Helvetic Airways’ further new Embraer E190-E2s will speed up in the next few months. Four more aircraft will follow by this summer, bringing the E190-E2 contingent to seven aircraft in all. Parallel to this, three of the airline’s first-generation Embraer E190-E1s will be withdrawn.
Swiss regional airline Helvetic Airways has been offering a range of short- and medium-haul services from Swiss airports since 2006. The airline operates Embraer E190-E2, E195-E2, E190 and E195 aircraft on scheduled, charter and wet-lease flights. Under a long-term wet-lease agreement, up to 15 Helvetic Airways aircraft operate on behalf of Swiss International Air Lines.
Helvetic Airways employs around 600 people. The company also has its own maintenance hangar at its corporate headquarters at Zurich Airport, staffed by around 60 aircraft mechanics. The airline offers innovative part-time models in the cockpit and cabin such as, for cabin crew, the Ski&Fly and Fly&Study options as well as the fully flexible Fly your way model. Current vacancies can be found at career.helvetic.com.
Helvetic Airways works closely with Horizon Swiss Flight Academy AG, based in Kloten since 2008 (www.horizon-sfa.ch). Both companies are part of the Helvetic Airways Group, headquartered in Freienbach, Switzerland.
Contact for media inquiries:
Simon Benz
press@helvetic.com
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