It's Official - Virgin Blue to Get Jungle Jets
 

From the VB website...

November 2006

Virgin Blue Orders 20 Embraer 'E-Jets' - New Fleet strategy for Australia's 'New World Carrier'
Thursday 2 November 2006: Virgin Blue Holdings today announced a major new investment with an
AUD$950 million list price order for 20 aircraft from the Embraer E-Jet family.

With deliveries commencing in 2007, the order includes firm commitments for 11 EMBRAER 190 and 3 EMBRAER 170 jet aircraft and options for 6 additional E-Jets.

The Brazilian jets – the first of their type to operate scheduled services in the Australasian region will give the Virgin Blue Group significant additional operating flexibility, while increasing efficiency through lower fuel burn.

Both aircraft types will be fitted with leather Elite seats, the widest economy seat offered worldwide on a single aisle aircraft. Virgin Blue will configure its jets in a single class, 2 x 2 seat layout.

“This acquisition is a key step-change for Virgin Blue under our New World Carrier strategy announced last year,” said the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Brett Godfrey.

“Our current fleet of Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft provides sufficient capacity to serve key routes in the Australian, trans-Tasman and Pacific Island markets, however it is not optimal on all markets,” said Mr Godfrey.

“This new jet will enhance our ability to serve the corporate market by more accurately matching seat capacity and frequency to passenger demand.

“We believe the Embraer E-jet family provides jets with large capabilities, which will enable us to operate the right sized aircraft, not only for specific routes, but for specific days and even particular times of the day and night.”

“Virgin Blue will have the ability to complement and “right size” our operations and we are currently considering a range of operating possibilities which are yet to be confirmed," added Mr Godfrey.

Coinciding with Virgin Blue's order, Embraer will bring an EMBRAER 190 aircraft to Australia later this month for a national demonstration tour, including a roadshow for Virgin Blue staff throughout the country.

As of September 30, 2006, Embraer had delivered 184 E-Jets to customers in Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Finland, Poland, India, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador and Panama.

“We are delighted that Virgin Blue has selected our E-Jets,” said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer Executive Vice-President, Airline Market.

“It is particularly satisfying to know that our technologically advanced and fuel efficient E-Jets fit the bill for this ‘New World Carrier’ who is once again poised to change the airline landscape in Australia and the South Pacific. “

The EMBRAER 190s ordered by the Virgin Blue Holdings group have a maximum range of 2,300 nautical miles, or 4,260 kilometres, enabling them to fly with a full payload from Sydney to anywhere in Australia, or beyond to New Zealand and a range of destinations throughout the Pacific. The EMBRAER 190 seating configuration can range from 98 to 114 seats.

The smaller EMBRAER 170s can fly 2,000 nautical miles, or 3,706 kilometres, enabling them to operate from Sydney to anywhere on Australia’s eastern seaboard, as far north as Darwin, or from Adelaide or central Australia to Perth, as well as from eastern Australia to New Zealand and parts of the Pacific. The EMBRAER 170 seating configuration can range from 70 to 80 seats.

Virgin Blue's E-Jets also will include extensive use of new weight-saving materials, fly-by-wire electronic control and new-technology fuel efficient engines reducing both fuel burn and exhaust emissions – a vital consideration in Virgin Blue’s selection of new aircraft.

In addition, the E-Jets meet the most stringent restrictions on aircraft noise, reducing noise around airports and beneath flight paths, as well as minimising cabin noise levels for passengers.

For more information about the Embraer E-Jets, visit www.embraer.com.

At last!!!!!!!!!!!!

Been a long time coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

Congratulations VB ..............................This is really BAD NEWS for Qantas and JetStar.:D

Jack Red,

Why, QF could rekit the B717 and undercut their grass :)

I don't think the 717 has the same mission capabilty. The 190 will be a good machine.

I guess VB will start recruiting soon then eh?

AUssie

The 717, operated properly, could give the E-Jet a run for its money, literally. There are 6 still sitting in BNE ........... bang 'em back on line I say!

There are people out there that would sell their eldest child into slavery for another go at the diesel. (God bless her!)

How much is an embraer endorsement? :E := :hmm:

Rumours of a bonding system have been floating around recently.... who knows! :confused: :}

Well let that rumour perpetuate, it sounds promising! :ok:

...disco

anyone know what destinations they are targeting initially? It will be interesting to see if/how Qantas respond!

:)

Let us hope they start a Perth base. There is a HUGE untapped resources market that would feed nicely into the VB terminal. By-passing an overloaded QF infrastructure.

Qantas will need to act quickly, especially if DJ deploys the E-Jets on the Q400 routes (SYD-CBR, BNE-CBR, BNE-ROK, BNE-MKY, BNE-GLD and BNE-EMD). Up until a few years ago more than half of the above routes were operated by jets (NJS with the 146 and FWA with the F28/100).

As topgun007 said, Qantas could get put the B717’s back on these routes or make use of the 146 again (short term) or have Skywest and/or Alliance operate their Fokker’s on behalf of Qantas.

If there’s a jet and a turboprop operating the same route, Joe public will always go for the jet (no matter how old it is).

Perhaps for QFlink, can't see how it would affect the * or mainline Q, they'll be put on different routes. The 170s might give rex a little shake up, but at the end of the day 'joe public' also want to go cheap cheap cheap, and turboprops are just that on the shorter sectors...

I doubt the fares will be more than the prop fares where they compete.

Hmmm...Embraer or 146? :hmm: I know which one I'd choose, and it AINT the 146! The Embraer is a really good counter to the Q400s - good move DJ. :ok:
Magoo

Magoodotcom

Do people really choose an aircraft type to travel on?

Whilst it was many years ago, when I worked in TAA res, no one phoned and said, "I wanna book on the 727 flight to Sydney".

People book to get from A to B, and the vast majority just take what they get without asking what type.

Unless you're a plane spotter. There seems to be quite a few here nowadays:ugh::rolleyes:
What's prune coming to?

People didn't ask for the 727? On hot days in Canberra airline staff were begging head office for 727s rather than DC-9s because the DC-9s had to leave half the passengers behind.


When turboprops did start to re appear on Canberra-Sydney (Ansett Fokker 50s, then Dash 8s for Australian Airlines) some people did ask if there was a jet two hours either side of the prop departure. Nowadays if you want a jet you will have a very long wait.

717s verses Jungle Jets? Like swatting flies. Bring em on! :}
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...17-and-190.jpg