US regional carrier Continental Express has confirmed its love affair with the regional jet by turning a further 25 options for the Embraer ERJ-145 into firm orders.
The $375-million deal takes Continental Express's total firm orders with Brazilian manufacturer Embraer to 100, comprising 75 of the 50-seat ERJ-145 and 25 of the 30-seat ERJ-135. The original ERJ-145 order was announced here in 1996.
"There is only one thing we like better than an Embraer turboprop and that is an Embraer jet," Continental Express president David Siegel told reporters at a press conference yesterday.
"This is very significant for us. Over the next five years or so we will transition to an all-jet fleet."
JET-POWERED
Siegel says some 45% of his airline's fleet in terms of available seat kilometres is now jet-powered.
"Customer reaction has been overwhelmingly positive," he says. And he hints strongly that another order may be not too far in the future - the airline has earmarked 68 more turboprops for retirement.
Continental Express, the regional subsidiary of Continental Airlines, expects to become one of the largest regional jet operators in the world. Siegel emphasises that the decision to move to jets is cost-based. "We are seeing increased economies of scale, lower operating costs and significantly better revenues."
Embraer is widely expected to make an even bigger announcement today. American Eagle, a regional subsidiary of American Airlines, will likely announce a multi-million-dollar order for ERJ-135s.
Source: Flight Daily News
