Expands Firm Order To 23 E-Jets

Embraer announced Friday the Brazilian planemaker recently has signed Finnair to a new firm order for three more Embraer 190s. The total value of the agreement, at list prices, is $112.5 million. The aircraft will be configured with 100 seats in a comfortable dual-class layout, and first delivery is scheduled for 2010.

"It is always very satisfying to receive additional orders from established customers who operate our aircraft on a day-in, day-out basis," said Mauro Kern, Embraer Executive Vice President, Airline Market. "We are privileged to continue contributing to the renewal of Finnair’s fleet and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship between the airline and Embraer."

Embraer and Finnair initially signed for 12 Embraer 170 jets in 2004, with options for another eight aircraft of the E-Jets family. In 2005, the airline expanded its order to include the Embraer 190, by converting two firm orders and confirming four options. The remaining four options of the original contract were confirmed in November 2006 and, with today’s announcement, Finnair raises the total number of E-Jets firm orders to 23, further ratifying its option for this family of aircraft.

"Finnair has enjoyed a year of solid growth and a strong profitability. The E-Jets continue to form a key part of our forward growth strategy, enabling us to have the right size aircraft to meet route demand and ensuring that we offer optimum flexibility and comfort in our key feeder and point-to-point traffic," said Henrik Arle, The Head of Finnair Scheduled Traffic. "We are very satisfied with the highly favorable economics of our E-Jets, especially the Embraer 190, which greatly complements our narrow-body jet fleet."

The Finnish airline currently operates 10 Embraer 170s and six Embraer 190s, and has one of the largest E-Jets fleets in Europe. The seventh Embraer 190 was delivered this week in São José dos Campos, Brazil, and will soon arrive in Finland.

FMI: www.finnair.com, www.embraer.com