The delivery of Kenya Airways’ 36th “bird” is now imminent as the aircraft was put through a vigorous in-flight testing regime over the past two days, ahead of the formal handover later this week at the Embraer assembly plant in San Jose Dos Campos.
The aircraft, once it joins the fleet at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), will be deployed on regional and medium distance routes across the African continent and is, as all other Kenya Airways aircraft, configured in a Premium and Economy class section, offering 12 business class seats in a 2×1 layout and 84 economy class seats in a 2×2 layout.
The Embraers are playing a crucial role towards achieving Kenya Airways’ target of connecting every political and commercial capital on the continent with Nairobi by the end of 2013, using this type of medium-distance jet alongside the proven B737NGs and, in particular, on select Southern and Western African routes, the B767 and B777.
It was confirmed from a regular source at Kenya Airways that the airline will take delivery of at least one such aircraft every month until April next year, when according to Plan Mawingo, deliveries of additional B737NGs will commence.
The airline will progressively build up from 40 aircraft by the end of 2012 to 50 aircraft the following year and 60 the year after.
