Story ID: 014regionalsupdateAINApril12.doc
Estonian Opts for E-Jets
By: Gregory Polek
Caption: 
Word Count: 250
Estonian Air has chosen Embraer’s line of E-Jets to revamp its entire fleet of narrow-body and regional jets, Embraer announced in late February. The national flag carrier of Estonia and the Brazilian manufacturer have signed a contract for the purchase of three E175s and one E190. Estonian Air also plans to take eight more Embraer aircraft–four E170s and four E190s–under a combination of lease agreements with third parties and leasing companies. At press time the direct purchase from Embraer remained subject to the approval of Estonian Air’s Supervisory Council.
  
The first of four E170s leased from Finnair entered service in late February, while schedules call for delivery of the aircraft on firm order in the second semester of 2014.
  
Estonian–the first airline in the Baltic region to order E-Jets–has opted for a single-class interior for each of the types, resulting in a capacity of 76 seats for the E170s, 88 for the E175s and 112 for the E190s. Plans call for the E-Jets to replace Estonian’s Boeing 737 and Bombardier CRJs. “We have also been following with high interest the analysis that Embraer is conducting to launch a second generation of its E-Jets, using new engines, with possible entry into service around 2018,” said Estonian Air president Tero Taskila. “I am particularly pleased that, despite [our] being a small carrier, Embraer is taking our requirements and comments into consideration in the new E-Jets design.