TUI Fly Belgium to Become a new Embraer E195-E2 Operator

The TUI Group has signed an agreement with AerCap for the long-term lease of three Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. Set to join the group’s Belgian subsidiary, TUI Fly Belgium, the new Brazilian-made jets are scheduled to be delivered in early 2023.

Equipped with 136 seats in a single-class configuration, the new planes will operate some of the airline’s longer-distance leisure routes from its base in Antwerp, Belgium.

“We are thrilled to add the E195-E2 to our Belgium fleet,” said Marco Ciomperlik, Chief Airline Officer at TUI Group. “The new airplane is the most efficient aircraft in the market. It uses less fuel, has a longer range, while at the same time is 50% quieter and emits up to a third less carbon dioxide.”

TUI Fly Belgium currently operates four Embraer E190 planes, equipped with 112 seats in an all-economy class setting. The next generation E2 jets are set to increase the capacity by 21.4% over the current generation jets, capitalizing on the 26% fuel-saving capabilities the new plane can offer.

With this order, the TUI Group becomes the seventh operator of the aircraft type, following Air Peace, Azul, Belavia, Binter Canarias, Helvetic Airways, and KLM Citihopper.

“The selection of the E195-E2 is an important milestone to make TUI’s fleet even more efficient in support of our sustainability goals,” explains Tom Chandler, Managing Director of Fleet and Asset Management at the TUI Group. “Working together with AerCap, Embraer, and Pratt & Whitney, we have agreed on an attractive package that enables TUI to provide travelers from regional airports in Belgium an even better start to their holidays.”

TUI Belgium, which also operates a fleet of 22 Boeing 737-700/800/MAX 8, one 767-300, and two 787-8 Dreamliners, will drop its average fleet age of 11 years by at least a couple points.

Photo: Courtesy of Tim Dennert / Unsplash

Photo: Courtesy of Tim Dennert / Unsplash

“We are pleased to announce the lease placement of three E195-E2s with TUI. AerCap has a long history of working with TUI, and we are excited to be a part of their fleet renewal plan,” said Peter Anderson, Chief Commercial Officer of AerCap. “The E195-E2s are the perfect aircraft to support TUI’s operations with greater versatility and improved efficiencies, enabling them to meet their sustainability commitments.”

Overall, the addition of the E2 variant into TUI Fly Belgium’s fleet will translate in better metrics for the carrier, as well as an improvement in the experience the airline can offer to its customers.