E2 Debut for Air Astana

摘要

AIR ASTANA has taken delivery of its first Embraer E190-E2, becoming the maiden operator of the type in the CIS and just the second globally after launch customer Wideroe. The Kazakh flag carrier's first of five examples, P4-KHA (c 19020012), has been leased from AerCap and was officially unveiled atAstana/Nursultan Nazarbayev on December 14. It carries a striking snow leopard-themed livery, part of the airline's broader efforts to raise the profile of the endangered wild cat which is native to the mountain range of southern Kazakhstan. Embraer Commercial Aviation president and CEO John Slattery said the Brazilian firm was "honoured" to be delivering "this 'wildcat' to our good friends at Air Astana". He added: "For a manufacturer, there is no better reward than to see a customer's business continuously growing with our products. Air Astana's decision to embrace the E2 programme is a further measure of trust in Embraer and in the E-Jets family of commercial aircraft." The incoming E2 made its commercial debut on the Astana to Almaty trunk route on December 19, kicking off a fleet renewal programme that will see the carrier replace the older examples of its nine-strong E190 fleet with the latest-generation E-Jet. Deliveries of the four remaining aircraft, ordered in 2017, are expected this year. (Photo Air Astana)