Helvetic completes the renewal of its Embraer fleet

ZURICH - Swiss regional airline Helvetic Airways took delivery of its twelfth latest-generation Embraer E-Jet E2 aircraft.

The arrival of the carrier’s fourth Embraer E195-E2 concludes a fleet renewal programme that began in October 2019.

The latest arrival, which bears the registration HB-AZL, touched down on Swiss soil August 15. The 9,900-kilometre delivery flight from Brasil over Palmas took some eleven-and-a-half hours.

The addition of HB-AZL brings the all-Embraer Helvetic Airways fleet to 16 aircraft: eight E190-E2s seating 110 passengers, four E195-E2s accommodating 134 and four previous-generation E190-E1s, which will provide reserve and back-up capacity.

The arrival of HB-AZL, almost two years since the delivery of Helvetic Airways’ first E-Jet E2, concludes the fleet renewal programme with a total investment of almost USD 750 million.

With the coronavirus pandemic bringing a more regional emphasis to air transport along with a trend towards the use of smaller aircraft types, Helvetic Airways considers itself ideally equipped both to provide reliable and cost-effective flight operations and to take advantage of the new opportunities that are currently offered in markets worldwide.

No plans for further purchases

Its new fleet additions also make Helvetic Airways one of the biggest Embraer E-Jet E2 operators in the world.

Helvetic Airways also holds purchasing rights for a further twelve Embraer E-Jet E2 aircraft. "But in view of the present pandemic and its repercussions," says CEO Tobias Pogorevc, "we do not plan to exercise these in the near future."

Swiss regional airline Helvetic Airways provides a range of short- and medium-haul air services from its Zurich Airport and EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg hubs.

The carrier uses its 14 Embraer E-Jet aircraft for scheduled, wet-lease and charter flights. Eight Helvetic Airways Embraer E190-E1s and -E2s are currently operated on behalf of Swiss International Air Lines under a long-term wet-lease agreement.

The Helvetic Airways workforce numbers some 450 employees. The company also has its own maintenance hangar and operation at Zurich Airport, which is further home to its corporate head office.