Estonian Air to replace new Bombardiers with cheaper Brazilian aircraft
20.01.2012, 14:03Estonian national carrier Estonian Air has received permission from the ministry of economy to replace the new Bombardiers that the airline acquired recently with cheaper planes made by Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer.
„We are in talks with a competing aircraft manufacturer aimed at reaching better terms,” is how Estonian Air president Tero Taskila commented the case.
It has been only a year when Estonian Air was handed over three new Bombardier aircraft. The airline needed new planes badly since it was in the process of removing the Saab turboprops from service and closing the lease of Boeing aircraft.
The airline also announced that it was negotiating purchase of three other Bombardier aircraft. However, when the Canadian manufacturer who knew that the airline was in dire need of new aircraft started to set demands, most of which were unacceptable, the airline’s management with the approval of the economic minister Juhan Parts started to look around for an alternative.
It found it in Embraer, a Brazilian aircraft manufacturer that was able to offer a much wider choice of aircraft. Both Embraer and Bombardier are fierce competitors since they operate in the same category of aircraft.
Embraer is no newcomer (it was founded in 1969) and is the world’s fourth largest aircraft manufacturer, one place behind Bombardier. Embraer, however is world leader in the segment of regional aviation and this is what makes it so interesting for Estonian Air.
The Estonian carrier has now decided that it will shortly lease three Embraer 170 aircraft from one European airline as a temporary measure until the manufacturer is able to deliver three new Embraer 190 aircraft.
In comment, Estonian pilot coach Rein Porro said that the main reason why Embraer is better than Bombardier is that the latter have notably less space for passengers, luggage and pilots.
Embraers have the widest body in their class and they offer more legroom. Notably, Finnair has 18 Embraer planes, LOT has 27 and Lufthansa has 35.