The demise of Fairchild Dornier and the 728/928 and Envoy 7 programme has sent the two principal launch customers, Lufthansa CityLine and Flight Options, scrambling in search of substitute aircraft. Attention is still focused on Bombardier and Embraer to see if they will revive the stalled 90-110-seat BRJ-X and executive version of the 170, respectively.
Lufthansa, after cancelling its order for 120 728s, confirms it has re-opened talks with other manufacturers. "We stayed with the order as long as possible to avoid financial penalties," says Michael Lamberty of Lufthansa fleet planning.
Options include additional Bombardier CRJ700s and the stretched CRJ900 version, or the four-abreast Embraer 170/175. Lufthansa CityLine already operates nine CRJ700s and has another 11 on order, plus 10 options. Embraer hopes Lufthansa's plan to operate a larger aircraft on European regional routes will push it towards the 170/175 which, although smaller in cross-section than the five-abreast 728, is larger than the 70-86 seat Canadian family.
There is speculation that Bombardier might consider reviving the BRJ-X after deciding not to acquire the similarly sized 728/928 . The project was placed on hold in 2000. The CRJ700/900 face strong competition in the mainline carrier regional sector.
Flight Options is also looking for an alternative to the Envoy 7 executive jet version of the 728 , for which it had a tentative commitment for 25. Kenn Ricci, chief executive of the US fractional ownership company, says it is looking at the Embraer 170 and smaller Bombardier Global Express.
The requirement is for an aircraft under 45,400kg (100,000lb) maximum take-off weight to access Teterboro Airport, New Jersey. Embraer three years ago promoted such an aircraft, the ECJ-170, but backed off to concentrate on the baseline passenger jet.
Source: Flight International
