In September, the carrier signed a $4.4 billion deal with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer for 50 of its newest jets, the E195-E2, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2027. The new aircraft will fly alongside Avelo’s existing Boeing 737 fleet.
So far, the jet has failed to gain traction in the US market due to regional competition. “scope clause” of the pilot unit This limits the size and weight of aircraft that regional subsidiaries can operate.
These agreements to protect the main line Pilot jobs at places like Delta and UnitedHatch outsourced flying aircraft weighing less than 86,000 pounds, well below the E2’s weight. This means only independent airlines like Avelo can operate it.
Arjan Meijer, president and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, said at the company’s Investor Day on Tuesday. E-2 is quieter than its competitorsit burns less fuel per seat and comes with a 2×2 cabin layout, meaning middle seats aren’t intimidating.
Avelo CFO Hunter Keay said: automatic take-off capability of the aircraft It will help the airline reach smaller airports in secondary markets because it can fly on shorter runways, which Avelo’s 737s cannot.
This opens up many more cities on the map, some of which Keay said do not currently have any commercial traffic.
Avelo chose E-2 rival Airbus A220It’s a longer-range and higher-capacity aircraft, but that will likely take longer to arrive due to supply chain bottlenecks.
Business Insider toured the jet during the 2024 Farnborough Airshow in England. Here’s what travelers can expect on board:
The E-2 jet does not have a middle seat.
An aisle view of the Embraer E195-E2 at the 2024 Farnborough AirshowPete Syme/Business Insider
Nicknamed the “Snow Hunter”, the E-2 has a 2×2 cabin with two sets of seats on each side of the aisle. The Embraer-installed seats pictured have headrests that may not be visible in the Avelo’s no-frills cabin.
In comparison, the A220 has a 3×2 layout as seen. Carriers like Delta and Breeze Airways.
There will be larger overhead bins.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
Embraer introduced larger overhead bins on the E195-E2 that can carry carry-on luggage primarily on wheels rather than horizontally.
The aircraft is powered by Pratt & Whitney engines.
Embraer calls the E195-E2 the “Snow Hunter”.Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The E-2’s two Pratt & Whitney PW1900G GTF engines contribute to its attractive fuel consumption; however, Power plants face technical problems The incident has led some airlines, such as Dutch carrier KLM Cityhopper, to ground some jets.
The P&W-equipped A220 is also struggling with engine problems that have caused some airline fleets to be grounded entirely.
The aircraft was produced for regional markets.
State-owned airline Mexicana flies regional routes in Mexico.Gerardo Vieyra/NurPhoto via Getty Images
For example, the airline is currently the sole carrier on routes such as New Haven, Connecticut to San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Hartford, Connecticut to Montego Bay, Jamaica.
E-2 will complicate Avelo’s business model.
Avelo operates a fleet of Boeing 737-700 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft.Los Angeles Daily News via David Crane/MediaNews Group/Getty Images
Budget airlines generally operate only one type of aircraft. For Southwest Airlines, this Boeing 737. For Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, it is the Airbus A320 family.
The strategy keeps maintenance, training and labor costs low; However, multiple fleets, especially one with two different manufacturers, create a more complex system.
Avelo is still low-key.
The interior of one of Avelo’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft.Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Avelo Air
Even though the plane is new, that doesn’t mean Avelo has revamped its entire experience.
Boeing 737 standard coach seats offer 29 inches of pitch.
Embraer offers premium seats just in case.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
These seats offer more space and padding than standard economy seats.
Many budget carriers, e.g. Spirit and Bordertends to offer more premium options.
It’s unclear if the Avelo will follow suit, but it does offer bulkhead rows with extra legroom and rows with the middle seat blocked off.
This will be the only E-2 operated by a US airline.
In addition to Porter, carriers such as Brazil’s Azul, KLM, Singapore’s Scoot and Virgin Australia also fly the E2.Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The A220 remains the dominant aircraft in the US, as larger, non-coverage-restricted airlines such as Breeze and JetBlue prefer the European-built jet over the E-2.
And there are still very few classic E-Jets flying for budget carriers. JetBlue Airways recently retired its last flight in September and Breeze plans to phase out E-Jets By mid-2026.
