Additional Aircraft To Fly For Alaska Airlines

SkyWest has placed a firm order for eight E175 jets. The aircraft will be flown by SkyWest Airlines under a Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA) with Alaska Airlines. The value of the contract, which will be included in Embraer's 2015 second-quarter backlog, is estimated at USD 355 million based on 2015 list prices.

This is the second agreement between SkyWest and Alaska Airlines involving the E175. In November of last year, the two companies signed a CPA for seven aircraft of the same model. The first airplane in Alaska Airlines livery enters service next month.

"We welcome this latest order confirmation from our longstanding customer," said Paulo Cesar Silva, President & CEO, Embraer Commercial Aviation. "For almost thirty years, SkyWest has operated Embraer aircraft and their performance and reliability has helped build the carrier's sterling reputation. I know that SkyWest and Alaska Airlines will appreciate the E175 for its excellent economics, as will their customers for the spaciousness of the cabin."

These eight new aircraft are part of SkyWest's previous order for 100 (40 firm and 60 reconfirmable) E175 current generation E-Jets – with an additional 100 options – placed in May 2013. This reconfirmation brings the total number of firm orders to 55 aircraft. The E175s for Alaska Airlines will be configured with 76 seats and include 12 First Class seats. Delivery for the additional eight E-Jets is scheduled for 2016.

SkyWest is the largest regional airline group in the world and is the parent company of SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet Airlines. Both companies have long histories with Embraer and were early customers for the Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia turboprop aircraft. In a separate deal with Embraer announced in June of 2013, SkyWest became the launch customer for the E175-E2, ordering 100 aircraft with 100 additional options. Deliveries begin in 2020.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.embraer.com