Arrival of new Embraer E-Jets

[Yada Yada]

Here is an interesting article on the new E-Jets Virgin Blue is about to introduce.

Smaller is better for Virgin Blue
by Steve Creedy

VIRGIN Blue believes passengers will show a strong preference for its fleet of 20 Embraer E-Jets as it deploys them to expand its network and boost its bottom line.

The airline's decision to add smaller Embraer E-Jets to its fleet is the culmination of a painstaking evaluation resulting from the realisation the airline would have to move beyond its original mantra of one aircraft type.

It has already moved away from its low-cost model to capture higher-yield customers through inducements such as lounges and a tiered frequent flyer scheme. Now the smaller Embraers will provide access to new markets as well as give it the flexibility to match capacity with demand on existing routes.

"We looked at everything - the Q300, the Q400, all the other regional jets out there," Virgin chief financial officer Keith Neate told the The Australian during a flight to Embraer's headquarters at Sao Jose dos Campos in Brazil this week.

"We took a look at all of them, we evaluated all of them using a combination of subjective factors, objective factors and financial performance and the one that kept coming out as a winner was the Embraer. It's just a fantastic aircraft. It has the latest technology for its type, it has two-plus-two seating, it has very generous seat space and the seat pitch is good. It just gives us a flexibility on our seat densities across every route that we fly. It's perfect."

The airline has firm orders for six Embraer 78-seat E-170 and 14 104-seat E-190 as well as options on three planes and purchase rights on 17 more.

More...

 

[JohnK]

This week I flew 3 AY sectors on E-190s on flights of between 2-3 hour duration. Seats are not very comfortable and the seat width does not compare to A320s or 73Xs. And I pity anyone who gets to sit behind a chronic recliner, it gets very claustrophobic. Actually I found the TG A300-600 recently a lot better than most of the above options. Not sure why this aircraft was not more popular.

If I remember correctly, sorry if I have it wrong, AY has E-170s with 76 seat configuration and E-190s with 100 seat seat configuration. So DJ is appearing to be squeezing an additional row.

 

[Evan]

JohnK, When you say the width does not compare you mean its actually less than a B737 or A320 and not more as they seem to like telling people. Yuck and extra row, oh well i guess we will just have to wait to measure the pitch etc when they are online for DJ.

I wonder in a few years if they will be like cheap Hyundai Excels on the user car market except on the used airline market ???

E

 

[JohnK]

JohnK, When you say the width does not compare you mean its actually less than a B737 or A320 and not more as they seem to like telling people.

That is exactly how it felt like to me.

I don't want to criticise DJ anyway and I am just relaying my recent experiences with AY.

 

[crazydave98]

This week I flew 3 AY sectors on E-190s on flights of between 2-3 hour duration. Seats are not very comfortable and the seat width does not compare to A320s or 73Xs. And I pity anyone who gets to sit behind a chronic recliner, it gets very claustrophobic. Actually I found the TG A300-600 recently a lot better than most of the above options. Not sure why this aircraft was not more popular.

If I remember correctly, sorry if I have it wrong, AY has E-170s with 76 seat configuration and E-190s with 100 seat seat configuration. So DJ is appearing to be squeezing an additional row.

JohnK, I can't dispute your perception of comfort on the E170. However, the seat width of the Embraer (46.3cm) is wider than both the A320 (45.7cm) & B737. And of course there is no middle seat. There are two types of seat available for the E-jets, Standard and Elite - Virgin Blue has opted for the Elite (maybe EY have the Standard). And DJ may be appearing to squeeze in an additional row but appearances can be deceiving. What we have done is to remove a locker and galley carts on the front right hand side to be able to put in an extra row of seats on one side without sacrificing seat pitch.

cheers

CrazyDave98

 

[Standby]

JohnK, I can't dispute your perception of comfort on the E170. However, the seat width of the Embraer (46.3cm) is wider than both the A320 (45.7cm) & B737. And of course there is no middle seat. There are two types of seat available for the E-jets, Standard and Elite - Virgin Blue has opted for the Elite (maybe EY have the Standard). And DJ may be appearing to squeeze in an additional row but appearances can be deceiving. What we have done is to remove a locker and galley carts on the front right hand side to be able to put in an extra row of seats on one side without sacrificing seat pitch.

cheers

CrazyDave98

Thats a relief Dave,I remember many years ago when AN introduced the CRJs
and "upgraded" some routes by replacing 737s. They were very squeezie.
Also I know Jetblue in the US have their EMBs fitted with a version of Foxtel Live TV. I used it on yr flight to HerveyBay a few weeks ago and enjoyed it ,it would be great if it was common across the whole fleet.

 

[Mal]

I will be travelling on two EMB 170 (DJ) flights mid next month (assuming all goes well with the introduction of the planes into service). Will make sure I make notes and post here! I may also take a tape measure to double check the seats (assuming they allow it through security )

 

[stuartfaz]

I will be travelling on two EMB 170 (DJ) flights mid next month (assuming all goes well with the introduction of the planes into service). Will make sure I make notes and post here! I may also take a tape measure to double check the seats (assuming they allow it through security )

Have the EMB routes been confirmed yet? (I've heard PER-KTA and MEL-MQL) I'd love to see the new planes in action.

And for those who want to know the name of the new plane it is ( belle-issimo blue ). Not sure if the secrecy is necessary, but better to be safe then sorry...

 

[serfty]

Actually, the name is belle-issimo blue ...

 

[littl_flier]

Routes may not have been officially announced but flights have been uploaded into ITN which shows the aircraft. eg. BNE-MKY on DJ915 on 12 Nov is showing E70. I will keep looking now you've set me a mission.

 

[littl_flier]

I had a quick look and I can find them on:

BNE-CNS-BNE
BNE-SYD-BNE
BNE-CBR-BNE
BNE-MKY-BNE
BNE-HBA-BNE

It appears that they have two aircraft scheduled as of early November. (that I can find anyway)

 

[stuartfaz]

Actually, the name is belle-issimo blue ...

That's what I wrote (after editing the post several times )

An italian-y name for a brazilian plane? doesn't make much sense.

 

[serfty]

LOL!

... to be more specific it's belle-issimo blue ...

More on the new jets here:

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.

 

[stuartfaz]

LOL!

... to be more specific it's belle-issimo blue ...

More on the new jets here:

I could do this all day...

 

[simongr]

Interestingly that is the same name as the brazillian granite we just ordered for our kitchen. Maybe not such an italian name?

 

[pauly7]

I had a quick look and I can find them on:

BNE-CNS-BNE
BNE-SYD-BNE
BNE-CBR-BNE
BNE-MKY-BNE
BNE-HBA-BNE

It appears that they have two aircraft scheduled as of early November. (that I can find anyway)

Brisbane - Sydney? Joking right?!

Maybe you could check out Tasmania (LST/HBA) flights, there are rumours DJ are planning to downgrade some of those routes... hope not!

Also if Crazydave / Yadayada are still looking at this thread, out of interest, would DJ ever move or add some domestic widebodies (like 767 or 787s rather) for the high traffic Mel-Syd etc?

(I just hate the 737! Regardless of which airline is operating it!)

 

[Mal]

Brisbane - Sydney? Joking right?!

Why joking? If a particular trip (eg perhaps 11am in the morning) has only a certain number of paying pax, should they schedule a high capacity 737 or a smaller plane?

Do you see them put high capacity trains on small suburban routes? How about opening up all checkouts at Woolies when there are only a few customers?

 

[Yada Yada]

Also if Crazydave / Yadayada are still looking at this thread, out of interest, would DJ ever move or add some domestic widebodies (like 767 or 787s rather) for the high traffic Mel-Syd etc?

(I just hate the 737! Regardless of which airline is operating it!)

Hi pauly7,

I'm just a regular Virgin Blue customer. I don't work for the company. Aside from the cabin and ground crew, the only other person I've met who works there is crazydave98. Actually I did meet Brett Godfrey once too. But almost everything I know about the airline comes from reading the newspapers, online news feeds, or on this website.

 

[crazydave98]

Brisbane - Sydney? Joking right?!

Maybe you could check out Tasmania (LST/HBA) flights, there are rumours DJ are planning to downgrade some of those routes... hope not!

Also would DJ ever move or add some domestic widebodies (like 767 or 787s rather) for the high traffic Mel-Syd etc?

(I just hate the 737! Regardless of which airline is operating it!)

No not joking SYD-BNE as Mal noted.

Tasmania is a fair bet for E-jet services. I consider the E-jets to be an upgrade from both the B737 and A320 - wider seats, two abreast, quieter, better positioned windows (sick of having to dislocate my neck to look out of 737s), roomier dunny, quicker boarding and deplaning (and uses aerobridges where available) .... This isn't some coughpy little CRJ200 which certainly was a downgrade from the A320 under Ansett.

Yes we would consider widebodies, but not just the ones you mention and in fact certainly not the B767 which burns more fuel per seat than the B737-800. Interestingly it is likely that the aircraft families that replace the B737 and A320 will also replace the B757, B767-200, A300 and A310 - that is we could be in for some new generation short haul widebodies with up to 250 seats.

cheers

CrazyDave

 

[crazydave98]

The first E170 is in Sydney this afternon - gate 33 from 1510 to 1610 (departing for Canberra so should be there by about 1700). Happy to take anyone who is around for a look inside. Look for a tall blond guy with glasses and white polo shirt with Virgin Blue and Embraer logos on it.
CrazyDave98