• 

  Embraer

  Stock Code:

  ERJ

  Date Founded:

  1969-08-19

  CEO:

  Francisco Gomes Neto

  Headquarters Location:

  Sao Paulo, Brazil

  Key Product Lines:

  Embraer 170, Embraer 175, Embraer 190, Embraer 195, Embraer 175-E2, Embraer 190-E2, Embraer 195-E2

  Business Type:

  Planemaker

With a robust presence at London City Airport, it was only a matter of time before Embraer’s E195-E2 would fly to the center of the United Kingdom’s capital. The moment finally came today, and Simple Flying was onboard the pioneering flight.

A pleasant domestic hop

While Simple Flying had a busy week covering all the breaking news and exciting features at the Farnborough Airshow, there was one more day of festivities at Farnborough Airport this week. Arriving early at the Hampshire site this morning, we were welcomed by the Embraer team with drinks and snacks before being swiftly passed through security to board the famous Tech Lion demonstrator.

Before I sat down to enjoy the ride back to my home city, I took a quick glimpse at the 2-2 configured main cabin. Simple Flying was provided with an in-depth tour of the cabin and its features at the Dubai Airshow in 2021. Nonetheless, there was plenty of space, but I was still keen to enjoy the luxury at the front.

This business class formation sees reclining seats laid out in a staggered manner. As a result, they are slightly wider than standard adjacent seats. This configuration also boosts privacy while allowing passengers to enjoy 54-inches of pitch. So, the interior makes for a relaxed experience and even an opportunity for a nap on quick continental hops.

There were plenty of views to be had on the short trip today. We caught a glance of the white cliffs of Dover before heading up to London. Approaching London, the unique skyline could be seen alongside the River Thames.

Even though the E195-E2 is larger than its counterparts, it just takes a press of a button to assist with the steep approach. There is a function just for this landing. There was not much of a difference in feeling when lowering altitude. Looking back, it felt like a standard LCY flight.

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A word from London City Airport

There were key stakeholders onboard the aircraft, including Alison FitzGerald, COO, London City Airport. She stated the following about the historic flight:

“The arrival of the E195-E2 signals that we are on the cusp of welcoming more new generation aircraft that provide world class environmental performance, carry more passengers, and have the potential to connect this airport with more global markets. This moment also represents the strength of the partnership we have with Embraer, and together, we are pushing the envelope of what’s possible at this airport, as at 146 seats and a wingspan of 35 metres, it will be comfortably the largest aircraft to operate from LCY.”

Airport initiatives

Speaking with Simple Flying onboard the plane, FitzGerald highlighted the noise reduction benefits of the aircraft. Notably, the plane offers more than 65% reduction in noise footprint area when up against current-generation jets serving LCY. This factor undoubtedly will be music to the ears of those attending the consulting sessions hosted by the airport regarding the potential expansions of flight hours.

Earlier this month, LCY began a 10-week public consultation about how it can meet passenger demand ahead with quiet aircraft and more sustainable operations. All in all, the site is looking for better flexibility on Saturday afternoon and evening services, along with more freedom with early morning and late evening flights.

Located near offices and residential areas, there has been a lot of pressure on LCY when it comes to expanding sustainably. Thus, the E2 is being touted as a solution in this next chapter.

Embraer’s E2 is a natural fit with this initiative, with Pratt & Whitney PurePower Geared Turbofan engines replacing the General Electric units to provide a 17.3% improvement in fuel consumption. Altogether, Embraer is proud of the low level of external noise and emissions that these aircraft offer.

The E190-E2 is already flying to London City with Helvetic Airways, which inaugurated the type's services to the airport last September. The airline would also be keen to fly its E195-E2 units here. Today’s touchdown helps this prospect to soon become a reality as Embraer is targeting certification for steep approach into LCY by the end of this year. With a button solely dedicated to steep approaches, there shouldn’t be too much of an issue with this process.

With a runway of 1,508 meters and descent angles up to 5.5 degrees, the commercial airport’s operations are more specialized than its London counterparts. At the moment, 85% of all services landing or departing London City are E-Jets or the E190-E2. The likes of BA Cityflyer and KLM Cityhopper join Helvetic on short and medium-haul operations from the site.

KLM Cityhopper will be the first to fly the E195-E2 to LCY after certification. The airline holds 12 units of the model in its fleet. It’s fitting the Dutch carrier will pioneer this service. After all, KLM's first flight utilized a leased Airco DH.16 to fly from London’s Croydon Airport to Amsterdam on May 17th, 1920.

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Grabbing attention

With LCY and its airlines determined to expand sustainably, we can expect the E195-E2 to become a core feature at the site. It's noteworthy that the aircraft flew into the capital of London with a 39% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend.

Ground personnel from different carriers were spotted looking at the aircraft in awe after landing. They welcomed the crew with a round of applause following a water cannon salute, and it won’t be a surprise to see the likes of British Airways, who remains a fan of employing Embraer planes to LCY, eventually take on this type.

Registration PR-ZIQ departed at 10:07 and landed at 10:54. It was a short yet scenic route, and provided us with the opportunity to see what passengers can expect by the time 2023 arrives.

What are your thoughts about this first Embraer E195-E2 flight to London City Airport? Would you be looking to fly the plane to the site in the coming years? What do you make of its overall prospects? Let us know what you think of the aircraft and its operational activity in the comment section.