US regional carrier SkyWest has ordered 40 Embraer E-Jets.
It will operate the Embraer 175 regional jets under a capacity-purchase agreement with United Airlines. Deliveries of the aircraft - to be configured in a 76-seat, dual-class layout - are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2014 and conclude in 2015.
The order also includes 60 "reconfirmable aircraft" which are subject to SkyWest winning CPA contracts from other US airlines.
St George, Utah-based SkyWest is also taking options on an additional 100 aircraft.
The deal is additional to 30 Embraer 175 aircraft that United previously committed to purchasing for operation by a United Express carrier. These too are due to be handed over between 2014 and 2015.
In December 2012, SkyWest Airlines firmed an agreement to purchase 100 Mitsubishi Regional Jets, taking 100 options. These aircraft were scheduled for delivery from 2017.
The SkyWest regional airline group includes SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet Airlines. Flightglobal's Ascend Online database lists nine ERJ-135s and 241 ERJ-145s in ExpressJet's in-service fleet. SkyWest Airlines operates 42 EMB-120 turboprops.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
