Embraer Delivers 900th E-Jet to Kenya Airways

Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, October 10, 2012 – Embraer reaches a significant milestone today, with the delivery of its 900th E-Jet, an EMBRAER 190, to Kenya Airways in a ceremony held at the company’s headquarters in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil.

“The delivery of the 900th E-Jet is a great achievement for Embraer, and we are very pleased to deliver this aircraft to Kenya Airways, one of Africa’s leading airlines, only eight years after the first E-Jets entered revenue service in 2004,” said Paulo Cesar Silva, Embraer President, Commercial Aviation. “E-Jets were the first aircraft to change traditional thinking about 70 to 120-seat aircraft and revolutionizing regional transportation by bringing more connectivity or frequencies to passengers, providing more flexibility to their traveling plans while improving the airlines´ operational efficiency.”

Today, E-Jets are in service with more than 60 airlines from 40 countries with four different types of business models - mainline, low-cost carriers, regional application and most recently, with scheduled tour operator. The aircraft routinely fly long sectors over water and operate at some of the world's most challenging airfields, like London City airport (LCY). The family also offers onboard entertainment systems, live satellite TV and radio, in seat power ports and Wi-Fi connectivity to the passengers.

“It is a real honor for Kenya Airways to be part of this highlight in Embraer’s history, by receiving the 900th E-Jet,” said Dr. Titus Naikuni, CEO of Kenya Airways. “The E190 is a versatile aircraft suited to our growth ambitions on the African continent. Given its mid-range capabilities, it ably supports our plans to fly new routes and increase frequencies on existing ones. It affords our passengers excellent cabin comfort while enhancing operating efficiency. This new acquisition brings the airline closer to our vision of flying to every capital in Africa in the next few years.”

Kenya Airways’ E190 aircraft are configured in a dual-class layout with 96 seats: 12 in business class and 84 in economy. They feature individual screens for every seat, with In Flight Entertainment on demand. This aircraft joins the Airline’s existing fleet of twelve Embraer aircraft, comprising a mixture of five E170s and seven E190s. Kenya Airways has seven more E190 aircraft on order with a delivery each month between now and February 2013. The aircraft are operated from its Nairobi hub.