Airlink, a leading full-service airline in Southern Africa, plans to lease 10 new Embraer E195-E2 twin-engine passenger aircraft from Azorra. The agreement is expected to be finalized soon. The deliveries from Embraer’s facilities in Brazil are anticipated to occur later this year and continue through 2027. Airlink has been operating Embraer aircraft since 2001.
The new aircraft are projected to achieve up to 29 percent fuel savings compared to the earlier-generation E195s currently in operation by Airlink. This improvement is aimed at enhancing economic efficiencies and reducing emissions across its network, which includes 45 destinations in 15 countries.
The Pratt & Whitney GTF-powered E2s have on average 33% more seats than Airlink’s current E190s. This will enable the airline to lower unit costs on high-demand routes and expand its network to new sub-Saharan Africa destinations.
Additional savings are expected due to the operational commonality between the existing E-Jets and the new E2s, including similar flight decks and operating procedures. This is intended to ensure a streamlined entry into service.
Airlink CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht stated: “The E195-E2 will bolster our business, helping us to be even more competitive on key routes and in doing so, continue providing the great value offering our customers are accustomed to.”
John Evans, CEO at Azorra, remarked: “This decision marks a significant milestone in our relationship with Airlink. The E195-E2 offers the perfect combination of increased capacity, efficiency and flexibility.”
Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation commented: “The E2 continues to prove its value for airlines worldwide… It’s a great vote of confidence in Embraer and the E2.”
Azorra is based in Fort Lauderdale and specializes in leasing, financing, fleet transition, and asset management solutions globally. The company manages over 125 aircraft with commitments for additional Airbus A220-100/300 aircraft and Embraer models.
Airlink was established in 1992 as Southern Africa’s premier regional airline with a modern fleet of Embraer jetliners serving various cities and destinations. In 2024 Qatar Airways became a 25 percent equity partner in Airlink.
