British Airways has taken delivery of its first Embraer 170 during a ceremony at the Brazilian airframer's Sao Jose dos Campos site.
The 76-seat aircraft is to be operated by BA's CityFlyer division out of London City Airport, replacing the airline's BAE Systems Avro RJs.
CityFlyer is taking six Embraer 170s and five 190s, and it has options for three more 190s.
Embraer executive vice-president for airlines Mauro Kern says that BA is the "last of the four largest European airlines" to operate the type.
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Air France-KLM's Regional and Cityhopper divisions each use Embraer E-Jets, while Lufthansa Group has also started introducing them.
Like BA's new Airbus A318s the Embraers will be required to perform the steep approach at London City, for which the 170 secured certification two years ago.
CityFlyer chief Peter Simpson says the 170 is the "backbone" of the airline's fleet modernisation and will enter service "very soon".
It will start bringing in the 190s early next year. The larger twin-jet has already conducted steep-approach tests at City Airport.
Source: Flightglobal's sister premium news site Air Transport Intelligence news
Source: FlightGlobal.com
