DRC – Congo Airways will in the coming months have two variants of E2s in its fleet with the Kinshasa-based flag carrier has exercising options for two E195-E2s from a December 2019 contract for new E-Jets.
The airline previously ordered two E190-E2s with deliveries planned to begin in 2022 with Embraer and Congo Airways continuing to review the potential to anticipate the beginning of the deliveries.
The 120-seat E195-E2s will have 12 business and 108 economy class seats.
The configuration has 25% more capacity than the 96-seat E190-E2s with 12 business and 84 economy class seats.
The airline’s CEO, Desire Balazire Bantu, said he intends to deploy the E2s to high-demand destinations such as Abidjan, Cotonou, Johannesburg, and Cape Town.
“We see an opportunity in our market and the crisis we are all facing for Congo Airways to emerge stronger. With two E-Jet models, we will have the flexibility and the right-sized, most efficient aircraft as the market returns,” added Balazire Bantu.
“We intend to deploy the E2s to high-demand destinations such as Abidjan, Cotonou, Johannesburg, and Cape Town”
Balazire Bantu – CEO, Congo Airways
Meanwhile, Air Kenya has also taken delivery of a De Havilland Dash 8 -200.
The deal was done via Elix Aviation Capital which is based in the Irish capital of Dublin.
Formed in 2013, the company become one of the fastest growing turboprop lessors and the lease is the first between Elix and Air Kenya, reports ATC News.
A year ago, Elix delivered the same aircraft type to Safarilink, marking its entry into East African market.
The recently delivered aircraft entered service in April 1998 with Horizon Air in Seattle.
The aircraft joined the Elix Aviation fleet in February 2019.
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