Embraer’s latest E-Jets gain South African certification, paving way for Airlink expansion

September 3, 2025 in Business, Companies, Travel & Tourism by Editor

Embraer has secured Type Acceptance Certification from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) for its E190-E2 and E195-E2 aircraft, marking an important step in the Brazilian manufacturer’s African ambitions.

The certification clears the way for South African airlines to operate the new-generation jets. According to Embraer, the E190-E2 delivers 17.3pc better fuel efficiency per seat than its predecessor, while the larger E195-E2 improves on that by 29pc.

The milestone comes as South Africa’s Airlink prepares to become the first operator of the E2 in the country. The privately owned carrier recently finalised a lease agreement with Azorra for 10 new E195-E2s, with deliveries scheduled to begin later this year and continue through 2027. The aircraft will seat up to 136 passengers in Embraer’s two-by-two cabin configuration and will be deployed on both high-density and emerging regional routes.

“This certification opens new opportunities for the aircraft, which has already attained significant success across the world,” said Stephan Hannemann, Senior Vice President for Africa and the Middle East at Embraer Commercial Aviation. “Passengers can now look forward to experiencing the E2’s class-leading comfort very soon.”

Embraer President and CEO Arjan Meijer said Africa remains central to the company’s growth plans. “With Embraer firmly established as the market leader in the up to 150-seat segment in Africa, this region is a key focus for us. As a long-standing customer, it’s great that Airlink will soon be South Africa’s first E2 operator,” he noted.

For Airlink, CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht said the aircraft will give the airline both flexibility and range to expand its network. “The E2’s additional capacity and range will let Airlink respond to increased demand on some of our most popular routes and extend our destination network so that we can provide convenient connections for customers in new markets,” he said.

The approval process also covered Pratt & Whitney’s PW1900G engines, which power the E2 family. With SACAA clearance secured, Embraer expects the aircraft to play a growing role in reshaping regional connectivity in Southern Africa and across the continent.