Five Orders, Options For 20 More

Embraer announced this week that Colombian carrier AeroRepublica is the latest airline to chose the manufacturer's E190 regional jet (file photo of type, below), as part of the airline's overall modernization and expansion plan. The order is valued at US$ 175 million at list price, and also includes purchase options for an 20 additional aircraft.

Delivery of the first aircraft is planned for November 2006, making AeroRepublica the first airline in the domestic Colombian market to operate the 108-seat aircraft. The airliners will be used on AeroRepublica's domestic routes, as well as in the development of international markets.

AeroRepublica says the new aircraft also will play an important role in the airline's alliance with Copa Airlines in Panama, through joint expansion of route networks that will provide passengers with more destinations and frequencies.

"We were looking for a new generation of aircraft that would provide the high level of comfort and dependability that customers require, and also be very efficient in fuel consumption and in general performance," said Roberto Junguito, President, AeroRepublica. "The Embraer 190 also offers us the opportunity to balance capacity and demand, which we need as part of our operational and expansion plan."

"The incorporation of the new Embraer 190 into the fleet of AeroRepublica is one of the principal initiatives of the airline's strategic plan," stated Pedro Heilbron, CEO, Copa Holdings S.A. "This aircraft is ideal for this market in terms of capacity and efficiency, and is a truly attractive product for the Colombian traveler and for the entire region."

Copa Holdings -- through its Copa Airlines and AeroRepublica operating subsidiaries -- is a leading Latin American provider of passenger and cargo service, currently offering approximately 80 daily scheduled flights to 30 destinations in 20 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

FMI: www.embraer.com, www.copaair.com