Sources say the carrier is finalising contract for 36 aircraft for new feeder airline
Northwest Airlines is set to order 36 Embraer 175s for its planned feeder unit Compass Airlines.
The US major revealed in March that it was in talks with Bombardier and Embraer for a fleet of 36 aircraft, with both a 76-seat two-class CRJ900 or 75-seat two-class E-175 under consideration. That plan said an order would be placed in April, with deliveries starting in March 2007.
However last week Northwest said it has no specific date for Compass’s inauguration.
But according to sources close to the large regional jet deal, the airline has selected the E-175 for its new division, and is finalising an order for 36 aircraft. Embraer and Northwest declined to comment on the forthcoming order.
As well as the delayed 70-80 seater acquisition, Compass’s planned introduction of 50-seat operations with Bombardier CRJ200s has also been delayed. The E-175 deal would mark the second for the larger version of the E-170 by a US carrier following Republic Airlines, which in July ordered 30 of the type. Republic’s deliveries are scheduled to begin next year. The variant received US Federal Aviation Administration type certification on 31 August.
Compass, which was granted a tentative air operator’s certificate by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) on 11 September, will initially be used to replace capacity lost under Northwest’s revision of its contract with Mesaba Aviation, Northwest said in its March regulatory filing. The airline says that: “Compass continues to work closely with the FAA on the certification process and is making good progress.”
Source: Flight International
