Virgin Australia Regional Airlines is set to get eight Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, the quietest and most fuel-efficient in its class, to serve the FIFO and regional market.
Virgin Australia Regional Airlines is set to get eight Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, the quietest and most fuel-efficient in its class, to serve the FIFO and regional market.
This morning Virgin Australia Group will announce the significant investment which secures the future growth of the WA-based regional and charter business VARA.
The E190-E2 aircraft will replace the noisy Fokker 100 jets from October 2025, news sure to be welcomed by residents around Perth Airport.
Another key feature is the two-two seating configuration - meaning no middle seats - very large over-head luggage bins and huge windows.
Virgin Australia Group chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka said the new aircraft would improve performance, reliability and customer comfort.
she said when the first new E190-E2 enter service from October 2025, it would become the first brand new aircraft in the WA charter market this century.
“The E190-E2 is the most fuel-efficient aircraft in its segment and will reduce emissions by about 30 per cent compared to the outgoing F100," Ms Hrdlicka said.
“These aircraft also feature significantly lower noise profiles and enhanced passenger comfort.
“When the E190-E2 joins the fleet from late next year it will predominately operate charter flights for VARA, bolstering its position as a leading operator in the WA charter market.
“This is a huge vote of confidence by the Virgin Australia Group in our charter business and the WA market.”
Embraer Commercial Aviation chief commercial officer Martyn Holmes said the E2 was a game changer.
“We are excited to welcome Virgin Australia to the Embraer family and look forward to seeing our best-in-class E2– renowned for comfort, quietness, and low emissions – take the airline to even greater heights,” he said.
Transport and Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti said this was a major investment in the state’s regional aviation sector.
She said it would help to grow the amount of jobs available within Western Australia.
“Our government is making enormous investments to make flying more affordable than ever before for regional," Ms Saffioti said.
"Western Australians, and our support for regional aviation gives airlines like Virgin Australia confidence to invest back into Western Australia.
“We will continue to prioritise affordable, efficient and reliable aviation for regional families.”
The E190-E2 aircraft has a flying range of around six hours and is powered by Pratt & Whitney’s PW1900G engines.
Building upon the first-generation E-Jet’s 20 years of operational history, the E190-E2’s enhanced aerodynamics, novel wing design, and new technologies are expected to deliver significant improvements in carbon emissions and fuel burn.
It has been certified to fly with blends of up to 50 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and has demonstrated through test flights the engine’s compatibility with 100 per cent SAF.
The acquisition of new aircraft for VARA is part of a significant group-wide fleet growth and renewal program that includes the acquisition of new Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft and the refurbishment of the airline’s existing 737 fleet.
The announcement comes as construction of VARA’s new $35 million Perth Airport hangar continues, with opening expected in late 2024.
Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, formerly Skywest, has been a fixture in the Western Australian landscape for more than six decades. VARA joined Virgin Australia Group in 2013 and now operates more than 250 services per week.
