Jet Air may acquire Embraer jets

After targeting bigger Boeing aircraft, private airline Jet Airways is now in talks with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer for acquiring Embraer 175 jet to deploy on long haul domestic routes.

At present, Coimbatore-based Paramount Airways is the only airline flying Embraer jets in the country.

Confirming the development, a senior Jet Airways executive said the airline is looking to either acquire Embraer jets or take the aircraft on lease.

"We are exploring the possibilities of inducting Embraer 175 into Jet Airways' fleet. This will be used on long haul domestic routes such as Mumbai-Kolkata and Kochi-Delhi. This will be a fuel-efficient option for domestic routes," he said.

Sources said the airline is also in discussions with aircraft-leasing companies for acquiring Embraer 175.

Embraer 175 jet has a seat capacity of 108 with minimum turnaround time. The Embraer 170/190 family aircraft has two underwing CF34 General Electric (GE) engines continuously monitored by a redundant computerised management system.

Jet Airways is also talking to US aircraft major Boeing Company for acquiring yet-to-be launched, 450 seater, Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft for its proposed non-stop US service.

"We are examining various proposals of inducting the world's best fleet to optimise the utility. It includes Boeing and Embraer. However, nothing has been finalised yet," a Jet executive said.

Meanwhile, Paramount Airways is in discussions with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer to acquire 15 Embraer jets for a list price of about $500 million. This full business class airline had ordered five jets for $138 million in June 2005.

Significantly, Embraer has estimated that domestic airlines would require 165 planes with 120-seat capacity in the next 20 years.