Embraer E190-E2 and E195-E2 Aircraft Receive Type Certification from SACAA

Embraer's E-Jets E2 family has been granted Type Acceptance Certification by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), marking a significant milestone in the aircraft's global success and affirming its suitability for the African market.

“This certification opens new opportunities for the aircraft, which has already attained significant success across the world,” said Stephan Hannemann, SVP for Africa and the Middle East, Embraer Commercial Aviation. “Passengers can now look forward to experiencing the E2’s class-leading comfort very soon.”

Embraer's E2 aircraft family offers airlines the ability to enhance operational flexibility, align capacity with demand, and increase flight frequencies, thereby improving connectivity. The E190-E2 and E195-E2 models are currently the most fuel-efficient single-aisle aircraft available, achieving 17.3% and 29% greater fuel efficiency per seat, respectively, compared to the earlier generation of E-Jets.

The announcement follows a significant fleet expansion by Airlink, South Africa's premier airline, which has recently completed a lease agreement with Azorra for 10 new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. The initial deliveries are anticipated later this year, with the entire fleet expected by 2027. These aircraft will accommodate up to 136 passengers in Embraer's comfortable two-by-two configuration and will facilitate Airlink's growth across high-density and emerging routes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, commented: “With Embraer firmly established as the market leader in the up to 150 seat segment in Africa, this region is a key focus for us. As a long-standing Embraer customer, it’s great that Airlink will soon be South Africa’s first E2 operator. This aircraft is the most efficient single-aisle jet and is perfectly suited to support Airlink’s ambitious growth plans across Southern Africa.”

Airlink CEO, de Villiers Engelbrecht, said: “South Africa’s type acceptance of the latest generation Embraer E195-E2 and its Pratt & Whitney engines by the SACAA are important milestones as we prepare to receive and take them into service. The E2’s additional capacity and range will let Airlink respond to increased demand on some of our most popular routes and extend our destination network so that we can provide convenient connections for customers in new markets."

The type acceptance process received substantial support from Embraer’s engine partner, Pratt & Whitney, as the E2’s next-generation PW1900G engines were simultaneously certified in South Africa. With the SACAA certification now secured, Embraer’s E2 jets are set to significantly influence the future of aviation in South Africa and beyond.