Virgin Nigeria Places Order for Seven Embraer 170 AR and Three Embraer 190 AR Jets

Released on Sunday, November 11, 2007

S�o José dos Campos, November 11, 2007 � Embraer has signed the growing Virgin Nigeria airlines for seven EMBRAER 170 and three EMBRAER 190 aircraft, all Advanced Range (AR) versions. The deal includes options for another six EMBRAER 190 and purchase rights for eight EMBRAER 190 or EMBRAER 195 jets. The value of the firm order, at list price, is US$ 306.5 million, based on January 2007 economic conditions, and could come to US$ 805.5 million, if all six EMBRAER 190 options and purchase rights for eight EMBRAER 195 are confirmed.

"Virgin Nigeria's choice of the EMBRAER 170 and the EMBRAER 190 is a strategic breakthrough in this promising Sub-Saharan African market," said Mauro Kern, Embraer Executive Vice President, Airline Market. "We are extremely pleased by Virgin Nigeria's decision to select Embraer aircraft and are sure that our E-Jets will provide the airline with the right tools for increased success. Our aircraft will help take Virgin Nigeria to new heights with its unparalleled combination of right capacity, sound performance, outstanding passenger comfort, and low operating costs."

First delivery to Virgin Nigeria is scheduled for September 2008, and the airline intends to deploy the EMBRAER 170 on its growing domestic network, rightsizing some of the routes currently operated by older narrowbody jets and replacing turboprops on its strategic petroleum routes, such as Lagos-Port Harcourt, due to the outstanding airfield performance of the aircraft. The EMBRAER 190 will be deployed in its regional and international markets. With their advanced range capabilities, common type rating, and training and parts commonality, both aircraft will bring more flexibility to the entire network.

"These new E-Jets from EMBRAER will greatly enhance our ability to serve the corporate market, enabling us to offer our passengers superior standards and to match seat capacity and frequency to passenger demand network-wide," said Conrad Clifford, CEO of Virgin Nigeria. "We believe the Embraer E-Jets will give us the edge over the competition, as well as provide us with a family of aircraft with versatile capabilities."

Virgin Nigeria's E-Jets will be configured with a comfortable dual-class cabin, having seven 20"-wide (51 centimeters) seats in the first class for the EMBRAER 170 and 12 for the EMBRAER 190.