Panamanian carrier Copa Airlines is expected to place an order for 10 Embraer 190 regional jets, after GE Aircraft Engines revealed it had received an order from the airline for CF34-10Es to power the aircraft.
Copa could unveil an order for the 100-seat aircraft - its first non-Boeing type - within the next month, say industry sources.
Speaking at the European Regions Airline Association's (ERA) general assembly in Vienna, Ronald Hutter, GE general manager, small single-aisle marketing, listed the order to power 10 Embraer 190s among its firm commitments for 2004. Neither Embraer nor Copa has confirmed the deal, however.
The Copa deal takes GE to 410 firm orders for engines this year, and Hutter says it expects to meet its target of 450 commitments for the year, which is level with last year's performance. But the "real growth" is in the 70- to 90-seater aircraft market, he adds.
VICTORIA MOORES & JUSTIN WASTNAGE / VIENNA
Source: Flight International
