Norway's Wideroe says may increase Embraer jet order

Scandinavia’s largest regional airline said Thursday it aims to increase its order for E2 jets after it received the first of three new-generation aircraft from Brazil’s Embraer to become its inaugural operator. Wideroe’s purchase of Embraer’s upgraded E190-E2 marks its first foray into jets after decades linking communities near the Arctic Circle with turboprops. It has options to buy another 12. “We will work extremely hard to ensure that we can receive the remaining 12,” CE Stein Nilsen said. He said Wideroe could also be interested in the smaller E175-E2, due to enter service in 2021 and currently prevented by union scope clauses from operating in the US. The boss of Norway’s oldest airline shrugged off a potential offer by BA-owner IAG for budget carrier Norwegian, saying there was no direct competition with Wideroe which serves mainly small domestic airports. “We are focusing on our niche,” he said.<br/>