Just at the end of 2019, Air Kiribati has taken delivery of its first Embraer E190-E2 aircraft. The airline becomes the launch operator of the E190-E2 in the Asia Pacific region.
The flag-carrier of the Republic of Kiribati ordered two E190-E2 in 2018 and has purchase rights for an additional two E190-E2 jets. The airline’s second E2 jet is scheduled to be delivered in 2020.
Air Kiribati’s Embraer aircraft is configured in a two-class layout for 92 passengers in total; 12 seats in business class and 80 seats in economy class.
The airline currently has a fleet of De Havilland and Harbin turboprop aircraft and mainly operates domestic services from its base at Tarawa’s Bonriki International Airport. The new Embraer jet enables the airline to fly longer domestic and international routes than it currently does with its turboprop fleet.
So far, four airlines have received Embraer E190-E2 aircraft: launch customer Widerøe, Helvetic Airways, Air Astana and Air Kiribati. Furthermore, Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras became the launch operator of the larger E195-E2 variant, with Binter Canarias being the second airline to operate the E195-E2 aircraft type.
Nick Wenzel founded International Flight Network in 2016. He is the Social Media Manager and an Editor for IFN.news.
