Embraer and Kenya Airways Ratify Contract

Pride of Africa to use the E-jets for to enhance its ongoing Expansion Program

Nairobi & São José dos Campos, August 30, 2011 – Embraer and the Pride of Africa Kenya Airways have finalized the contract for the acquisition of 10 EMBRAER 190 jets. This agreement completes contract negotiations following the signing of a Letter of Intent during the 49th Paris Air Show in June 2011.  The deal also includes purchase rights for 16 aircraft, which could be either the EMBRAER 190 or other models of the E-Jet family. “This final agreement from Kenya Airways for more aircraft in its fleet demonstrates not only its confidence in the future but also its endorsement of the versatility of our family of E-Jets”, said Paulo César de Souza e Silva, Embraer President, Commercial Aviation. “This confirmation is a sign that our E-Jets have been instrumental in the growth of our largest operator in Sub Saharan Africa, and provided it with an optimal tool to develop new routes while providing their customers with a reliable and comfortable aircraft.”

Kenya Airways’ E190s will be configured in a dual-class layout with 96 seats: 12 in business class and 84 in economy. Furthermore, all passengers will benefit from a modern in-flight entertainment system with individual touch screens. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2012.

This fleet modernization will boost the airline's aggressive network expansion strategy and in particular, boost plans to fly to all African capital cities by the end of 2013.

“The EMBRAER 190 fleet will be key in ensuring Kenya Airways becomes the leading carrier on the continent, interlinking African cities and, through our Nairobi hub, connecting Africa to the world,” said Dr. Titus Naikuni, Group Managing Director & Chief Executive of Kenya Airways. “The EMBRAER 190’s excellent range, efficiency, size and superior level comfort will allow us to increase frequencies and start new routes along with improving the overall passenger flying experience throughout Africa.”

With this new contract, the total number of E-Jets ordered by Kenya Airways is boosted to 20, considering aircraft acquired directly from Embraer or through leasing companies.  Today, the airline is today operating five E170s and two E190s under agreement with leasing companies. Three E190 jets from a previous order have still to be delivered this year and in 2012. Kenya Airways has embarked on an aggressive network expansion program to cater for the growing travel market. The combination of the E170 and 190 in Kenya Airways network will offer greater flexibility in right sizing the aircraft to meet route demand, using the same crew and ensuring consistent service level.

About the Embraer family of E-Jets
The EMBRAER family of E-Jets consists of four commercial jets with 70 to 122 seats, featuring advanced engineering design, efficient performance, outstanding operating economics, low emission levels and a spacious cabin without middle seats.

E-Jets have a maximum cruise speed of Mach 0.82, can fly at 41,000 feet (12,497 meters) and have ranges of up to 2,400 nautical miles (4,448 kilometers). The high degree of commonality among the four aircraft – EMBRAER 170, EMBRAER 175, EMBRAER 190, and EMBRAER 195 – results in exceptional savings for carriers in terms of crew training and costs of spare parts and maintenance.

Another key feature of the E-Jets family is state-of-the-art, fly-by-wire technology which increases operating safety while reducing pilot workload and fuel consumption.
The double-bubble fuselage design provides superior comfort and includes two main passenger entrances and two service doors, thus minimizing aircraft turn-around time. E-Jets offer much more space for passengers, in a single or dual-class layout, than other aircraft with similar seating capacities.

E-Jets have achieved outstanding success with nearly 1,000 firm orders from 60 companies in 40 countries. More than 750 jets have been delivered and have, collectively, accumulated 5 million flight hours and transported more than 200 million passengers worldwide. This proven family is helping airlines to right size low load factor narrow body routes, to replace older, inefficient aircraft, and to develop new markets with lower operating costs, greater efficiency, and outstanding passenger comfort.