Will Be Used On Regional Routes
Embraer and Air France/KLM group signed a contract this week for
20 E-Jets, consisting of four Embraer 190 and six Embraer 170 jets
for Régional, an Air France subsidiary, and 10 Embraer 190s
for KLM cityhopper.
The deal also includes options for another three Embraer 190 and
six Embraer 170 jets for Régional/Air France and nine more
Embraer 190s for KLM cityhopper. The contract value of the E-Jets
firm orders is US$ 657 million, at list price, based on January
2007 economic conditions, and could reach US$ 1.245 billion, if all
options are exercised.
The first aircraft will be delivered in November 2008 to KLM
cityhopper. Both Régional/Air France and KLM cityhopper
Embraer 190 jets will be configured in a single class layout,
seating up to 100 passengers comfortably.
Régional/Air France’s Embraer 170s will seat up to
76 passengers in a single class layout. Régional/Air France
has already three Embraer 190s in operation and will receive its
first Embraer 170 in August 2008. The airline is the largest
operator of Embraer jets in Europe, with a fleet of 39 aircraft --
three Embraer 190s, 27 ERJ 145s and nine ERJ 135s. The airline also
operates nine EMB 120 Brasilia turboprops.
“This joint order is the first from the Air France/KLM
group and we are especially proud that it goes to the E-Jets
family,” said Mauro Kern, Embraer Executive Vice President,
Airline Market. “To be selected by these world-class airlines
will further enhance the competitive positioning of our E-Jets. We
have two main reasons to celebrate today’s deal: one is the
confidence reinstated by our distinguished and loyal customer,
Régional/Air France and the other is the welcoming of an
important new member into the quickly-expanding E-Jets operators
family, KLM cityhopper.”
The Air France/KLM group E-Jets will eventually replace the
Fokker 100 in Régional/Air France and KLM cityhopper to
enhance the existing network and to permit the development of new
routes.
“We have had the pleasure to receive our first Embraer 190
in November 2006 and, since then, this aircraft has successfully
lived up to our expectations,” said Jean-Yves Grosse,
Régional/Air France President and CEO. “The new
Embraer 170, which will soon be joining our fleet, will give us
even more flexibility in operation, while offering the same level
of comfort to our passengers as the Embraer 190.”