100 EMB-190s Officially Booked; 100 Options Written

JetBlue Airways Corporation, now officially the launch customer for the so-new Embraer 190, has placed an order for 100 of the machines, with options for an additional 100. Embraer values the firm contract at $3 billion, with a potential value of $6 billion if all options are exercised.

The Embraer 190 is the manufacturer's newest model in a family of mid-sized aircraft targeting the growing 70- to 110-seat market. This family incorporates advanced design features such as integrated avionics, fly-by-wire flight controls, and more efficient, environmentally friendly GE engines.

100 leather seats...

As with jetBlue's A320 fleet, all of the low-cost carrier's new Embraer aircraft will offer DIRECTV satellite programming at every roomy leather seat. The new aircraft will feature 100 seats in an all-coach, two-by-two seating configuration.

JetBlue plans to take delivery of the first seven aircraft in 2005, with the remainder of the order expected to be delivered through 2011, at a rate of approximately 18 per year. Options begin in 2011. JetBlue ordered 65 Airbus A320s in April. With this new Embraer order and the low-cost airline's current fleet of 42 Airbus A320 aircraft plus orders and options for future Airbus deliveries, jetBlue's fleet could grow to as many as 290 aircraft by the end of 2011. Lease financing has been arranged for the first 30 Embraer 190 aircraft deliveries.

The -190 is powered by GE Aircraft Engines' CF34-10, the newest and most powerful member of GE's successful CF34 engine family.

FMI: www.jetblue.com; www.embraer.com