Barely 10 days after Embraer’s E190 gained
certification to fly the steep approach into London City Airport, Switzerland’s Baboo became the first airline to take advantage of the new capability when it flew one of its three 100-seaters between Geneva and the single-runway Stolport on February 10. The airplane replaced one of Baboo’s pair of Bombardier Q400s for the landmark flight.

The certification does not immediately apply to the Lineage 1000, the executive transport that uses the E190’s airframe. However, Embraer expects the Lineage to earn certification late this year or early next year.

The E190 uses a software modification developed on the airplane’s existing fly-by-wire system, which, according to Embraer, translates into better flight qualities and control, reduced pilot workload and lower fuel consumption. The OEM says the E190’s range out of London City is more than 800 nm, covering all the routes now flown into the field as well as more distant European cities such as Madrid and Lisbon.

Embraer lists the E190’s standard range with 98 passengers at 2,400 nm.

Along with Baboo, British Airways’ CityFlyer regional subsidiary–scheduled to take its first E190 this month–and Germany’s Lufthansa CityLine, which began flying its first Brazilian 100-seater from Frankfurt on January 26, account for the earliest users of the E190 at LCY.

Embraer’s 70-seat
E170 received certification for LCY operation in 2007 and now serves the airport with BA CityFlyer.