Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer this month announced that its E190-E2 and E195-E2 regional jets, the two current production models in its E-Jet E2 family, have successfully attained their type certificates from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).
This is of course an essential step in advance of Singapore Airlines’ low-cost carrier Scoot taking delivery of the first of nine brand new E190-E2 aircraft in March next year, with these jets progressively joining the carrier’s fleet through to the end of 2025.
Scoot will be the launch customer for the E2 in Southeast Asia, and is planning to deploy the type on a mixture of regional flights to both existing and new destinations, which it should be revealing soon.
CAAS approves the E190-E2
CAAS has become the sixth aviation authority globally to certify the E190-E2 regional jet, which has already been given the airworthiness nod by:
- USA (FAA), Europe (EASA) and Brazil (ANAC) in February 2018
- China (CAAC) in November 2022
- Malaysia (CAAM) in July 2023
The larger E195-E2 also earned its type certification in April 2019 from the FAA, EASA and ANAC, in August 2023 from CAAC and in the case of both Malaysia (CAAM) and now Singapore (CAAS), concurrently with the E190-E2.
“We welcome the type certification of the E190-E2 and E195-E2 and thank CAAS for their thorough assessment.
Mr. Raul Villaron, Vice President and Head of Region, Asia Pacific, Embraer Commercial Aviation
“This is yet another milestone achieved as we work towards Embraer’s modern, fuel-efficient E190-E2 taking the skies in Scoot’s livery in 2024.”
Only 18 E190-E2s are in commercial service globally as of September 2023, with a further 16 on firm order, so this remains a very rare aircraft globally, though over 500 of its predecessor E190 were produced. It remains to be seen whether the E190-E2 will enjoy similar success.
Notably, Scoot’s introduction of the E190-E2 will mark the first time that the Singapore Airlines Group has operated any aircraft other than from the primary manufacturers Airbus and Boeing since 2000, when the last Fokker 70 left the SilkAir fleet.
To support pilot training, Embraer will establish an E2 full flight simulator at the Singapore-CAE Flight Training Centre, located at the SIA Training Centre.
Scoot’s first E190-E2 arrives in March
Scoot first announced its intention to lease nine brand new E190-E2 regional jets back in February 2023, finalising the deal in May 2023.
Earlier this year, the airline said that two E190-E2 aircraft would be joining the fleet in March 2024, both entering service before the end of that month.
However, in the latest November 2023 update, the airline has revised that down to a single aircraft arriving in March 2024, which is planned to enter commercial service later the same month.
That will leave eight remaining E190-E2s to be delivered to the carrier between April 2024 and December 2025. It would potentially see a new aircraft added to the fleet every 2-3 months during that period, though the exact delivery schedule has not been announced.
Scoot will configure the E190-E2 with 112 seats in a single-class (Economy) 2-2 configuration, ideal for what the airline calls “thinner routes to non-metro destinations”.
Scoot aircraft by seating capacity
(highest to lowest)
| Aircraft | Total Seats |
| Boeing 787-9 | 375 |
| Boeing 787-8 | 335 |
| Boeing 787-8 (Bunk) |
329 |
| Airbus A321neo | 236 |
| Airbus A320neo | 186 |
| Airbus A320 | 180 |
| Embraer E190-E2 | 122 |
For a 112-seat fit, seat pitch will be around 29 inches, with width of around 18 inches. That’s quite comparable to those fitted on board the airline’s Airbus A320neo aircraft, though the big selling point for the regional jet is that 2-2 layout, giving all passengers either a window or aisle seat.
It’s particularly ideal for couples, with no dreaded “middle seat” in play, and even for solo travellers there’s a maximum of one seat to climb over to reach the aisle.
Having flown on an E190 (E1 – first generation) a couple of times in Europe, I can assure you the overhead locker space is no match for an A320 or 787, but otherwise it’s a perfectly pleasant jet experience, and the 2-2 seating is a definite plus.
The good news for the E2 is that overhead lockers are apparently 40% larger than their predecessors, with the airline claiming that “each passenger on the aircraft can stow his/her own standard-size carry-on bag in the bins”.
One toilet at the front and one at the rear of the cabin will give passengers a seat-to-toilet ratio of 56:1, the best of any Scoot aircraft in Economy Class.
Scoot aircraft seat-to-toilet ratio
(Economy Class)
| Aircraft | Seat-to-toilet ratio |
| Boeing 787-9 | 68:1 |
| Boeing 787-8 | 63:1 |
| Boeing 787-8 (Bunk) |
62:1 |
| Airbus A320neo | 62:1 |
| Airbus A320 | 60:1 |
| Airbus A321neo | 59:1 |
| Embraer E190-E2 | 56:1 |
Source: aeroLOPA
Engine woes? Not “for a while”
The E190-E2’s engines are provided by Canada’s Pratt & Whitney, in the form of the PW1000G geared turbofan, which also powers Scoot’s Airbus A320neo family.
The engine manufacturer recently discovered an issue with contaminated powdered metal used in the manufacturing process for these engines, which could cause cracking in their high pressure turbine section, requiring additional maintenance checks.
Two of Scoot’s Airbus Airbus A320neo aircraft are currently grounded, since their four engines are affected by the issue, but the airline is playing down any impact for the E2’s, at least while they are brand new and haven’t hit an inspection time limit.
“[The E2’s do] have a yet-unknown impact… but the planes and engines are brand new, so they will be fine for a while.”
Mr. Tan Kai Ping, COO, Singapore Airlines, November 2023
Earlier this year, KLM had to adjust its flight schedules due to issues with the PW1000G engines on its E2 aircraft, something Scoot will no doubt be keen to avoid.
Scoot will be the launch customer in Southeast Asia
The first aircraft in the E-Jet E2 family to enter service in Southeast Asia was due to be the larger E195-E2 for Malaysia’s SKS Airways, with first delivery slated for January 2024.
However, this has been pushed back to the second quarter of 2024, with the airline reportedly running into financing issues for the new jets.
That looks set to mean Scoot will be the launch operator of the E-Jet E2 aircraft family in Southeast Asia, with its first of the smaller E190-E2 aircraft due for both delivery and entry-to-service in March 2024.
Like Scoot, SKS Airways is sourcing its E2’s on operating leases from US-based Azzora.
Potential Scoot E190-E2 routes
One of the most interesting things about Scoot’s introduction of the E190-E2s is the very thing we don’t actually know yet – where exactly the carrier will fly them.
In a recent update, the SIA Group has shared that the aircraft will be used to “expand regional, secondary and tertiary markets”.
Earlier this year, Scoot’s CEO Leslie Thng revealed that both existing and new destinations will feature on the aircraft’s roster.
“As to where we are deploying this [E190] aircraft, definitely within the region. This aircraft can fly up to five hours. It will be deployed both on existing destinations that we currently fly to, because we can add frequency, as well as new destinations within the region.”
Mr. Leslie Thng, CEO, Scoot, May 2023
That could see the type used on existing routes during shoulder periods, at quieter times of day, or even on days of the week with lower demand.
The most exciting element though will be the promised new destinations.
The E190-E2 has the longest range among the E2 family, able to fly up to 5,280 km (2,850 nm) with a full passenger load, around a 6-hour flying time from Singapore.
Furthermore, it can operate from short runways. The E190-E2 needs only a 1,450 m runway to takeoff at maximum weight, and a 1,240 m runway to land, according to Embraer.
Scoot’s shorter non-metro routes like Kuantan, Palembang and Pekanbaru will surely be contenders for these lower-capacity fuel-efficient jets, but the potential destination we’ll all be watching out for is Koh Samui.
The SIA Group discontinued flights to and from the popular Thai holiday island in March 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when SilkAir operated twice-daily Airbus A319 services to and from Changi.
SilkAir retired these aircraft during the pandemic, and since they were the largest jets permitted to land at Koh Samui, the Group has since been left with no compatible types to fly to the airport, which is privately owned by Bangkok Airways, who set the rules on what size of planes can and can’t use it.
The E190-E2 falls well within Koh Samui’s operating restrictions (in fact it’s far smaller than the upper aircraft size limit imposed), making it an ideal solution to plug this gap in the Group’s network.
In the meantime, Bangkok Airways enjoys a monopoly on Singapore – Koh Samui flights with its twice daily Airbus A319 services, which command high fares and offer only afternoon and evening flight timings.
Sadly Scoot won’t offer a good KrisFlyer redemption option if it starts this route, like SilkAir used to, because awards on the low-cost carrier are revenue-based, and terrible value.
Luckily there are several good ways to redeem miles on Bangkok Airways flights to and from Koh Samui, starting at 6,000 miles one-way, as we recently analysed in this dedicated article.
A new Scoot service to Koh Samui would hopefully provide lower fares, but even then it’s unlikely to be a particularly cheap option.
On a route 70% reliant on transit traffic, which the low cost carrier will surely be tapping into via codeshare and interline with Singapore Airlines if it starts this service, there will simply be no need for Scoot to provide particularly low fares on Koh Samui flights, with only 112 seats to fill.
Indeed the lack of a good KrisFlyer redemption option with the carrier, like there was in the SilkAir days, could make it an even less attractive choice than a redemption on Bangkok Airways, especially with the 6,000 Avios option in play.
If fares are high – the Avios option is probably better – and don’t forget Bangkok Airways provides a full-service experience with better legroom, free meals and drinks on board.
The biggest benefit Scoot would probably provide is additional timing options for the Singapore – Koh Samui route.
While Bangkok Airways only offers evening services out of Singapore, so that it can tap connecting passengers from Europe and Australia arriving on the likes of Qantas, Emirates, Air France and KLM, Scoot can play a different tactic.
Singapore Airlines also has arrivals from these parts of the world in the morning, which previously allowed SilkAir to fill its planes with connecting passengers at 8.10am and 10.40am each day, and we expect Scoot would replicate similar timings, for the same reason.
This would give Singapore-based travellers an alternative option to reach Koh Samui much earlier in the day, helping them to maximise their trip, perhaps even using Scoot outbound and Bangkok Airways for the way back home.
We’ll certainly be watching the route announcements closely, and hoping for Koh Samui to make the list at some stage. The airline’s CEO has promised some destination announcements “slightly before” the first aircraft arrives.
“Once we decide on the new [E190] destinations, we will definitely inform the trade and media. We are looking at receiving the first aircraft sometime in March 2024. So slightly before that, we should be able to announce some of the destinations that we will be deploying this aircraft type to.”
Mr. Leslie Thng, CEO, Scoot, May 2023
Summary
The Embraer E190-E2 and E195-E2 regional jets have now been formally approved by Singapore’s aviation regulator, with their type certificates now issued, ahead of Scoot’s introduction of the smaller variant in March 2024.
SIA’s low-cost airline will be the launch carrier for the E2 jets in Southeast Asia, and we can expect them to be used on a mixture of new and existing routes from early next year, with that list hopefully expanding through to the arrival of the ninth aircraft by late 2025.
The Scoot passenger experience gets an improvement here, thanks to a 2-2 seating configuration on these aircraft, better for everyone but particularly for couples.
We might even see a Scoot option to and from Koh Samui using the new jets, but we think the main benefit there would be more timing options for travellers – don’t hold your breath for particularly low fares if that one makes the list!
(Cover Photo: Embraer)
Didn’t MI operate Fokker 70s in the 90s?
Oh you’re right I forgot about those! Will amend thanks.
What a waste of runway capacity at Changi Airport.
Just a not that the the name of the training facility is ‘Singapore CAE Flight Training’ – without the ‘Centre’. Thanks
Congratulations to Scoop with these beautiful and modern airplanes that surly will fit perfectly in at Changi world nr one airport – probably the best looking airplanes @ Changi 2024 – onwards
We are certainly hoping that secondary cities in Borneo will be served. Miri and Sibu as new destinations and additional frequency to Kuching would be very nice indeed!
The PW1100 is an American Pratt & Whitney engine. P&W Canada commonly makes turboprops and small turbofans