Pacific Blue gets new plane options for here
It comes with its parent company, Virgin Blue Group, this week confirming an order for 20 new Embraer E-Jets. These are for services by Australian-based Virgin Blue and its New Zealand-based international offshoots Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue.
The jets are designed to give all three airlines more flexibility in their Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Islands schedules and to promote upgrading of services.
Pacific Blue currently operates twice weekly Auckland-Rarotonga-Auckland using 180-seat Boeing 737-800 jets. It competes with Air New Zealand, which uses 234-seat Boeing 767-300s and 152-seat Airbus A320s on this route.
The Virgin Blue Group announced it would by 11 Embraer 190 jets seating around 100 passengers, three of a smaller 80-seat 170 model, and options on another six aircraft. The order has a total list price of $1.09 billion.
RANGE
The E190 has a range enabling it to fly Auckland-Rarotonga and to alternative airports if unable to land here. The E170 could also fly to Rarotonga but would have to significantly reduce its payload to meet requirements on reaching alternative airports.
The jets are built by Embraer, a successful Brazilian aircraft manufacturer specialising in smaller passenger jets. Pacific Blue’s local groundhandling agents, Air Rarotonga, flies Embraer aircraft, its Bandeirante turboprop planes.
Virgin Group chief executive Brett Godfrey said the Boeing fleet was suitable for key domestic Australian, trans-Tasman and Pacific Island routes, but was not optimal for all markets.
He said: “We believe the Embraer E-jet family provides jets with large capabilities, which will enable us to operate the right sized aircraft, not only for specific routes, but for specific days and even particular times of the day and night.”
Mr Godfrey said the airline was considering “a range of operating possibilities which are yet to be confirmed”.
The Virgin Group was moving from a low-cost business model to a “new-world carrier”, he said.
New-world carriers are described as providing many of the services established carriers such as Air New Zealand do, but retaining a low-cost approach.
FLEXIBILITY
The Brazilian jets will give the Virgin Blue Group significant additional operating flexibility, while increasing efficiency through lower fuel burn, Mr Godfrey said.
Both aircraft types will be fitted with leather Elite seats, claimed to be the widest economy seat offered worldwide on a single aisle aircraft. The Virgin Group will configure its jets in a single class, 2 x 2 seat layout.
Embraer will bring an E190 aircraft to Australia later this month for a national demonstration tour.
“We are delighted that Virgin Blue has selected our E-Jets,” said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer Executive Vice-President, Airline Market.
“It is particularly satisfying to know that our technologically advanced and fuel efficient E-Jets fit the bill for this ‘New World Carrier’ who is once again poised to change the airline landscape in Australia and the South Pacific. “

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