India's Paramount Airways to operate Embraer 170 and 175 aircraft

Indian start-up airline Paramount Airways looks set to become the first customer for Embraer E-Jets in India after signing preliminary agreements to lease two Embraer 170s and three Embraer 175s for operations set to begin later this year.

Paramount will take the two Embraer 170s directly from Embraer and operate them in a single, all business class configuration with 70 seats. The Embraer 175s will be leased from GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) and will be configured in a dual-class arrangement of 11 first class seats with full leg rests and 64 business class seats. The GECAS aircraft are conversions from an original order for Embraer 170s.

Both agreements are in the process of final documentation.

“Embraer is excited to have its new E-Jets chosen by Paramount Airways,” said Embraer President and CEO Maurício Botelho. “The design and economics of the Embraer 170 and 175 enable Paramount to offer ‘big-jet’ cabin comfort at low operating costs, through the use of state-of-the art technology in the cockpit, the engines, and in the operating systems of the aircraft.”

“Paramount is proud to be the first customer of Embraer E-Jets in India,” said Paramount Airways Managing Director Mr. M. Thiagarajan. “We believe that the new Embraer 170/175s will blend well with our unique business model, where we have envisaged to offer unparalleled passenger comfort and services at highly competitive fares.”

“We are thrilled to have Paramount join our growing roster of airline customers in India,” said Tejpreet S. (T.P.) Chopra, Vice-President of Marketing for GECAS. “The Embraer family of aircraft are well-suited for airlines in the country, and we are pleased to offer a leasing solution that meets our customer’s needs.” 

Operating from its base in Coimbatore in southern India, Paramount Airways will be a full-service airline providing direct flights to a number of secondary cities and also connecting them to primary metro areas in the country. The airline is promoted by Paramount Group, a leading textile manufacturer based in Madurai, South India.

The new Embraer family of four E-Jets was designed to fill the 70- to 110-seat market gap, offering large-cabin amenities such as wide aisles and seats, generous baggage stowage and overhead bins, and full-service galleys, while maintaining smaller jet economics with a high degree of commonality.

The new product line comprises the Embraer 170, Embraer 175, Embraer 190 and Embraer 195 jets – seating respectively 70, 78, 100 and 110 passengers at 32-inch pitch.

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