AMR EAGLE is to start a competition later this month between Bombardier and Embraer 50-seat regional jets. The contest will be another clash in what promises to be a long-running battle between the Canadair Regional Jet and Embraer EMB-145 for dominance in the regional-jet field.
Any regional-jet purchase is contingent on American Airlines' pilots union approving a tentative contract agreement which will allow AMR Eagle to acquire up to 67 regional jets by the year 2000, and 218 by 2009 (Flight International, 2-8 October). The agreement requires American to add aircraft to its fleet, and the recent deal for up to 630 Boeings over 20 years helps clear the way for a regional-jet purchase.
United Express carrier Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA), similarly, is waiting for United Airlines pilots to agree a new contract which will allow United's regional partners to fly jet-powered aircraft. ACA has selected the Regional Jet over the EMB-145, but cannot sign a deal until a new contract is in place.
Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) is now conducting a competition to select a 50-seat regional jet. As a Delta Connection carrier, the airline is free to operate regional jets; Comair and Skywest, also affiliates of Delta Air Lines, already operate the Regional Jet, and ASA itself flies five 88-seat British Aerospace 146s.
Embraer delivered the first two of 25 EMB-145s on firm order for Continental Express on 18 December, 1996, immediately after receiving US certification for the aircraft.
Two more were delivered before the end of 1996. The Continental Airlines subsidiary has another 175 EMB-145s on option.
Embraer says that it is talking to "a dozen" US and European airlines about sales of "up to 300" aircraft. The Brazilian company also claims that the Canadair Regional Jet, which has a list price of around $20 million, is being offered to airlines for less than the $14.5 million price tag on the EMB-145. Embraer says that it was underbid by Bombardier on the sale of 16 regional jets to Mesa Airlines.
Source: Flight International
