Alpi Eagles Signs For Five Planes, More Possible

Embraer has signed with Alpi Eagles to deliver five Embraer 195 jets, as part of the Italian airline's expansion plan for Europe, which has also taken options on another five aircraft and purchase rights for six additional units. The deal may be worth, if all options and purchase rights are exercised, as much as $584 million at list prices.

The Embraer 195 will be serving the airline’s intra-European network routes, configured in a single-class, 122-seat interior. The airline is also the launch customer for the high-capacity version of the Embraer 195, which was announced in July 2006 at the Farnborough Air Show in London.

"The Embraer 195 combines the comfort of larger mainline airplanes with the economics of much smaller jets. This is one of the reasons behind our choice," said Paolo Sinigaglia, Alpi Eagles' President. "Added to that, the tremendous success this aircraft family has enjoyed in the airline industry, over recent months, from mainline to low-cost carriers, demonstrates the flexibility of the E-Jets family, which is exactly what we want for our European operations."

"The history of Alpi Eagles is marked by strategic decisions made at exactly the right time. We are honored by their selection of the Embraer 195, an aircraft which will provide them with a unique combination of operational flexibility, distinctive passenger comfort and highly attractive economics," said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer’s Executive Vice-President, Airline Market.

First delivery of the Embraer 195 -- the largest aircraft of the four E-Jets -- occurred in September 2006. As of December 31, 2006 Embraer had logged 619 firm orders and 568 options for this family from 32 customers worldwide.

Alpi Eagles currently flies an eight plane fleet of Fokker 100s.

FMI: www.embraer.com, www.alpieagles.com/?lang=EN