Seven airlines placed orders for up to 103 Embraer ERJ-135s and 145s worth almost $2 billion during the show . The orders from InterCanadian, KLMexel, Rheintalflug, Proteus Airlines, Skyways, Alitalia and Crossair take the total orders and options for the 37/50-seat regional jet family to over 900.
Canadian Airlines' regional partner InterCanadian, based at Montreal's Dorval Airport, has placed a $230 million order for up to 12 ERJ-145s, including six options which are convertible to the smaller ERJ-135. The firmly ordered aircraft, which will be eligible for Proex export subsidiaries, are being delivered from November. These relatively early deliveries have been obtained by using production slots originally set aside for the hotly contested Northwest Airlink order won earlier this year by rival Bombardier.
KLMexel is to begin jet operations in February 2000 with the first of three ERJ-145s on order. The Eindhoven, Netherlands-based carrier has taken two options
Proteus Airlines, which is based in Dijon, France, has abandoned plans to become a launch customer for the Fairchild 328JET and 728JET and ordered eight ERJ-145s, five ERJ-135s and five ERJ-170s instead. The airline had held launch commitments for both Fairchild aircraft, but switched to Embraer because it needed a 50-seater. Deliveries of the ERJ-145 will begin in October 1999, while the first ERJ-135 will arrive in April 2000. ERJ-170 deliveries will begin in 2003.
Rheintalflug has placed two firm orders for the ERJ-145 and three options for the ERJ-135, for delivery from December 1999. Based in Bergenz, Austria, the airline operates services to Germany and Switzerland, both in its own right, and under franchises for Team Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines.
Sweden's largest domestic carrier, Skyways, has placed a follow-on order for two additional Embraer ERJ-145s, along with eight options, bringing its total orders to four firm orders and 11 options.
Alitalia also placed orders and options for 16 ERJ-145s worth $300 million, while Crossair confirmed its $770 million deal for 40 ERJ-145s, including 15 firm.
Embraer says the InterCanadian aircraft were the last of its early delivery slots. The manufacturer is suffering from a similar short-term availability problem to Bombardier. ERJ production will rise to 12 aircraft a month by the end of the year and is expected to continue at that level for at least two years.
Source: Flight International
