Embraer axed from Tassili fleet renewal plans after airline wanted changes

The Algerian operator revealed on its website earlier this week that it had elected to buy four Boeing 737-800s and three Embraer 190 aircraft as part of its fleet restructuring. The airline is currently a Bombardier operator using Dash 8 Q200 and Q400s.

However, yesterday the airline disqualified the Brazilian manufacturer from the programme. According to Embraer a commission evaluating the bids for the fleet programme said on July 6 that it had been successful.  But it says its Algerian sales team was contacted the following day by Tassili with a request for a "change in specific conditions" of the proposal which Embraer had pitched.

Embraer says it "did not agree" to the request and, as a result, was "disqualified" from the bid. It has given no details about the request. Tassali could not be contacted for comment.

Tassili is wholly owned by the Algerian oil company Sonatrach having been created in 1998 as a joint venture with national flag carrier Air Algerie.