Air Astana (KC, Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev) has taken delivery of its first E190-E2 following the arrival of P4-KHA (msn 19020012) in Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev on Sunday, December 2. Skyliner Aviation indicates the twinjet was ferried to Central Asia from São José dos Campos U.E. Stumpf International via Recife and Faro.
The Kazakh national carrier has secured a total of five of the Embraer Regional Jets on long-term lease from AerCap. They will be used to replace Air Astana's existing fleet of E190s of which it operates nine.
“The acquisition of the E2 is the logical replacement of the E190, which we have been successfully operating since 2011," Peter Foster, President and CEO of Air Astana, said in a statement. "The E190 has enabled us to open up smaller markets in southern Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia including smaller domestic routes. As domestic and regional competition grows, we estimate the E2 will deliver up to 15% seat cost savings, which will enable us to increase capacity and market share on these routes and maintain our position as the region’s leading airline."
