Helvetic Airways Expands Fleet with Four E195s Through Lease Agreement with Azorra Aviation

Helvetic Airways Expands Fleet with Four E195s Through Lease Agreement with Azorra Aviation

Switzerland-based Helvetic Airways is set to enhance its fleet with the addition of four second-hand Embraer E195 aircraft, leased from Azorra Aviation. This move marks the first time the airline will incorporate E195 models into its fleet, aiming to bolster operations for the Summer 2024 season. The aircraft, model year 2011, are scheduled for delivery in the early part of the second quarter of 2024 and will undergo a reconfiguration to accommodate up to 122 passengers.

Tobias Pogorevc, Chief Executive of Helvetic Airways, highlighted the strategic benefit of these aircraft, emphasizing their role in ensuring flight schedule stability, reliability, and punctuality for customers, especially under current challenging industry conditions.

Azorra Aviation presently owns six E195s from 2011, with three undergoing maintenance post-lease from Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras, and the other three in service with SAS Link (SVS, Copenhagen Kastrup). The specific identities of the aircraft to be leased to Helvetic Airways have not been disclosed.

Currently, Helvetic Airways’ fleet comprises six E190s, eight E190-E2s, and four E195-E2s, with the E195s being a new addition. The airline transitioned to owning its fleet, purchasing all of its previously leased E190s in mid-2022, and later leasing two E190s from TrueNoord. While the E2 jets were acquired directly from Embraer, the E190s are second-hand, previously operated by Niki (Austria) and TUI fly (Belgium).

Helvetic Airways operates a mix of long-term capacity purchase agreement (CPA) flights for Swiss International Air Lines and conducts its own charter flights. The addition of these E195s is a strategic move to enhance its operational capabilities and service offerings.