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Australian Embraers on the rise
The Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) order for eight Embraer E190-E2s in August represents a new turn in the Australian mining Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO) market.
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Chris Seymour
Head of market analysis
Cirium Ascend Consultancy
The Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) order for eight Embraer E190-E2s in August represents a new turn in the Australian mining Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO) market. For decades this market has relied on the use of older, used aircraft for low utilisation operations. These new aircraft will be used to replace its remaining Fokker 100s.
Western Australia is a key region for mineral extraction (including iron ore, nickel-copper and gold) and there are numerous mining sites in the outback, which rely on air connections to fly workers in and out, usually to Perth. An example is Christmas Creek Mine, which operates a Fokker 100 daily on a 1 hour 40min flight from and to Perth. Airstrips can have paved or unpaved runways with usually just an apron and minimal facilities.
These FIFO flights mainly use regional jets, with some Airbus A319/A320 and De Havilland Canada Dash 8 operations as well.
Large passenger regional jet fleet in Australia
The large-sized regional jet fleet in Australia has grown from around 80 a decade ago to over 100 today. They are used on a mix of scheduled services and regular FIFO charter contracts. The Fokker 100 has been the core of this fleet, operated by Alliance Airlines, Network Aviation as well as VARA. The fleet peaked at 56 during 2018 but is down to 43 now., mainly as VARA has reduced its fleet from 21 aircraft to seven. Network Aviation, owned by Qantas and operating as QantasLink on scheduled and charter routes, operates 14, alongside Airbuses and one E190.
Indeed, Australia has become an important market for used E190s.
Alliance, which uses 21 Fokker 100s and 10 Fokker 70s, has been active in building its E190 fleet, having acquired 67, first with ex American and Copa aircraft. It is in the process of taking 30 ex-JetBlue aircraft by mid-2026 from AerCap. Not all of these will enter service, as it has been selling some surplus airframes and engine cores, after harvesting for engines and spare parts. Alliance currently has 30 in service and operates both FIFO and for QantasLink, with Qantas having a part share in the carrier.
National Jet Express has also expanded its E190 fleet to seven, having replaced its BAe 146s.
The Australian market continues to provide opportunities for more E190s as Fokker 70/100 replacements, while the introduction of the E190-E2 may indicate a good long-term future for newer generation aircraft too.
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