Finnair expands fleet with new Embraer and used Airbus aircraft

Finnair has just announced that it will be adding to its fleet additional aircraft. Specifically, it will be adding brand new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft and used Airbus A320ceo family planes. The Embraer aircraft are coming straight from the manufacturer, while the A320s are coming from the used aircraft market.

In this post:

• Finnair's plan to renovate its fleet
• First deliveries of Embraer aircraft in 2027
• Long Airbus Queues Forced Finnair's A320 Decision
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Finnair's plan to renovate its fleet

Finnair is taking a two-pronged approach to renovating and expanding its fleet. For the renovation, it has ordered 18 new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, while for the expansion it is planning to source up to 12 Airbus A320ceo.

The order of new Embraer aircraft will replace the aging fleet of E190, with some of them coming up to their 20th birthday. Currently, Finnair owns 12 E190s, and the new order will fully replace them and expand the fleet of regional aircraft.

The order includes:

• 18 firm orders
• 16 options
• 12 purchase rights

As for the used Airbus A320ceo, it will be sourcing them from the used market, which means that Finnair will be paying the market rate, which is rather inflated at the moment for this aircraft type due to the ongoing engine durability issues with the GTF Pratt and Whitney engines.

First deliveries of Embraer aircraft in 2027

The Embraer aircraft order is the true part of the fleet renovation in this piece of news. The first planes are scheduled to be delivered in 2027, and the expected breakdown of:

• 3 aircraft in 2027
• 6 aircraft in 2028
• 6 aircraft in 2029

These aircraft too are powered by the Pratt&Whitney PW1900G GTF. However, newly produced engines do not have as many durability issues which the first models had. While still having rather high maintenance costs, these engines have a much higher time on wing than earlier produced ones.

Reason why Finnair has decided to order the aircraft to renovate its fleet, as these new generation Embraer aircraft ensure a massive up-gauging and lower fuel burn compared to the prior generation E190 aircraft.

Long Airbus Queues Forced Finnair's A320 Decision

On the other hand, on its sourcing of 12 additional A320ceo aircraft, Finnair is not innovating at all.

It is actually taking a gamble with high fuel prices at the moment. It is looking to source aircraft which have a 15-20% higher fuel burn compared with the new generation A320neo aircraft.

The gamble is paying less up front and hoping that fuel prices will drop over time. Why is Finnair doing this? At the moment, Airbus's waiting lists for delivery of brand new A320neo aircraft are very long.

If you were to order an aircraft today, you're looking at an expected delivery date which will fall in 2032 or 2033. Finnair never ordered the A320neo and now is finding itself forced to source used 10-15 year old aircraft on the used aircraft market to replace its oldest airframes.

Many looked at Finnair not having ordered the A320neo as having dodged a bullet, with many airlines facing disruption due to the GTF Pratt and Whitney engine issues (durability issues), but now this decision is somewhat backfiring.