EMBRAER SIGNS PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT WITH GULF AIR
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Airline would become the sixth operator of the E-Jets family in the Middle East
São José dos Campos, January 21, 2010 – Embraer and Gulf Air signed a preliminary
agreement, today, during the Bahrain International Airshow, by which two EMBRAER 170
jets would be operated by the airline through an operating lease.
“We are absolutely delighted to be selected by this renowned Gulf region airline, in this
milestone year of its 60th anniversary,” said José Luis Molina, Embraer Vice President,
Europe, the Middle East and Africa – Airline Market. “We now look forward to concluding
the final contract and having our E-Jets form an important part of Gulf Air’s growth plans.”
Both EMBRAER 170 jets – configured in a dual-class layout, featuring seven seats in
business class and 60 in economy – would be scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of
2010. The aircraft also come with a state-of-the-art In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) system for
maximum cabin convenience.
“As Gulf Air takes another step forward in a new
strategic direction, I am delighted to have been
able to sign this important agreement here, today,
at the Kingdom of Bahrain’s first International
Air Show,” said Samer Majali, Chief Executive
Officer of Gulf Air. “We are introducing a new
concept in regional travel. The realignment and
expansion of our regional and international
network, and our fleet, will reinforce our position
as the carrier with the largest number of Middle
East connections through our Bahrain Airport
hub. And to deliver this, we need aircraft that are
flexible and can meet these demands.”
About Gulf Air
Gulf Air (www.GulfAir.com) was founded in 1950, and is one of the oldest airlines in the
Middle East. The national carrier is owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain, through Bahrain
Mumtalakat Holding Company. Its goal has remained constant – a commitment to the latest
aviation technology and an adherence to traditional Arabian hospitality. The airline offers
customers the unique advantage of the largest network in the Middle East with nonstop
flights, while providing seamless onward connections to other destinations. Gulf Air’s current
network stretches from Europe to Asia, serving over 40 destinations, worldwide, with a fleet
of more than 30 aircraft. The airline enjoys codeshare agreements with 15 airlines around the
world, offering a wider choice of flights that can be booked directly with Gulf Air.
Parallel to the dynamic growth plans of the Kingdom, as laid out in its “Vision 2030”, Gulf
Air has embarked on a business strategy to upgrade its fleet over the next five years, in order
to further strengthen its presence as a leading international airline.
About the EMBRAER 170/190 Family of E-Jets
The EMBRAER 170/190 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.
The E-Jets have a maximum cruising 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 km). 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 is the state-of-the-art
fly-by-wire technology, which increases operating safety, while reducing pilot workload and
fuel consumption.
The EMBRAER 170/190 family provides superior comfort with its double-bubble fuselage
design, which includes two main passenger entrances and two service doors that minimize
aircraft turn-around time. The E-Jets offer much more space for passengers, in a single or
dual-class layout, than other aircraft with similar seating capacities.
The E-Jets have achieved outstanding success, with nearly 900 firm orders logged and over
600 jets in operation, worldwide. This proven family is helping airlines to right-size low load
factor narrow-body routes, replace older, inefficient aircraft, and develop new markets with
lower operating costs, greater efficiency, and outstanding passenger comfort. For more
information about Embraer’s commercial jets, visit www.EmbraerCommercialJets.com. To
better understand the benefits of these aircraft, when substituting older jets, visit
www.eforefficiency.com.
Source: EMBRAER
