Air Flandre has become the launch customer for Embraer's short-fuselage EMB-145 derivative, the EMB-135, with a deal for up to 20 aircraft.
The Brazilian manufacturer has also revealed a clutch of EMB-145 orders, including 20 for a US leasing company and ten for British Regional Airlines (BRAL).
The 37-seat EMB-135 was launched at the end of September, and the Lille, France-based regional airline has signed a memorandum of understanding for eight aircraft, with options for a further 12 - convertible to the larger -145 - becoming the first company to announce commitments for the aircraft.
Meanwhile, US lessor Wexford Management has placed 20 firm orders and 20 options for the 50-seat EMB-145, while BRAL has added a further ten EMB-145s to an order for five aircraft, and placed options for five more.
Regional Airlines has converted five options on the regional jet to orders and is discussing five more options. The French regional already has in service the first of five aircraft ordered earlier. New Swedish carrier City Airline has placed one firm order and taken four options on the EMB-145. Deliveries to the Gothenburg-based airline will start in July 1998.o
Source: Flight International
