The E195 is the largest model from the first generation of Embraer’s popular E-Jet series. The type entered service with British regional carrier Flybe in September 2006, and is still widely used today. However, did you know that Embraer proposed a stretched version? Known as the E195X, it never reached production.
Researched due to demand
Let’s start by establishing how the E195X would have been different from the standard E195 had the type reached production. The proposed jet had a planned capacity of around 130 passengers, representing a slight increase on the E195’s typical 100-seat two-class and 116 to 124-seat one-class passenger configurations.
To enable this, Embraer planned to stretch the E195’s fuselage to accommodate the extra few rows of seats that would have been necessary to meet this capacity requirement. Extra seating played an important role in designing the E195X, as a key driver behind the project was a request from US legacy carrier American Airlines.
Specifically, Embraer reportedly began its work on the E195X in response to the oneworld member’s request for an aircraft that could replace its McDonnell Douglas MD-80s. These typically held in the region of 140-155 passengers. As such, Embraer needed to find a way of increasing the E195’s lower capacity.
Range concerns prevent production
However, as Embraer continued to work on the proposed E195X, concerns began to emerge regarding the type’s range. According to FlightGlobal, some of these came from potential customers of the aircraft themselves. The airlines were worried that stretching the jet to fit in extra seats would cause its range to drop beyond a point at which the benefits of the increased capacity would outweigh this.
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Embraer’s CEO at the time, Frederico Curado,…