Tag Archives: Embraer ERJ 170

United Airlines introduces a new premium cabin menu on select United Express flights

United Airlines (Chicago) will introduce new premium-cabin dining service on United Express flights beginning next week, featuring freshly prepared entrees served on chinaware and expanded meal-service times for United First and United Business customers on regional flights.

The airline continues:

These dining improvements are part of United’s previously announced multi-million-dollar investment in in-flight food service.

The new meal service will be introduced in phases by aircraft type, with the new menus available on United Express North America flights operated with Embraer E170 (above) and E175 aircraft beginning March 1, and on Bombardier CRJ700 and Q400 aircraft beginning in April.

More Choices, More Often

New breakfast, lunch and dinner menus designed by United’s team of chefs will be offered on flights of more than two hours and twenty minutes.

Breakfast flights may include a fresh fruit plate served with cereal, creamy Greek yogurt and breakfast bread.

Lunch and dinner will feature two freshly-prepared entree choices that may include an artisanal pretzel roll filled with tangy barbecue chicken and coleslaw paired with a tri-color quinoa side salad; or ginger and garlic marinated beef with pickled vegetables and crisp edamame, served with Asian sesame dressing and a side of fresh fruit. Flight attendants will serve signature triple chocolate chunk cookies as dessert on lunch and dinner flights.

Other highlights include:

On flights of less than one hour, gourmet biscotti will be served on early morning flights and a premium fruit and nut snack mix will be served on later flights.

On flights between one hour and two hours and twenty minutes, flight attendants will offer light refreshments that include a selection of premium snacks and fresh fruit.

The airline is also adding light refreshments to flights departing between 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. and after 8 p.m.

Photo Above: United Airlines. The barbeque chicken and coleslaw sandwich.

United Express Inflight Entertainment

The airline is continuing improvements to the United Express inflight experience by outfitting more than 200 E175, E170 and CRJ700 regional jets with Gogo’s ATG-4 advanced air-to-ground Wi-Fi product. By mid-2015, United expects to complete installation on these aircraft.

Additionally, the company will begin providing Personal Device Entertainment on these regional jets this year, offering customers hundreds of complimentary movies and television shows to view on their Apple iOS and Android devices using United’s mobile app, as well as on laptop computers.

Eco-Skies Recycling Program Expanded to United Express Flights

In mid-January, United Express carriers began recycling on board E175 aircraft, furthering United’s Eco-Skies commitment to operating sustainably and responsibly. These E175 flights originate from Houston, Chicago and San Francisco.

These flights follow the same recycling program currently in place on United’s mainline fleet, using United Eco-Skies recycling bags for recycling paper, aluminum cans, plastic bottles and the carrier’s new hot beverage cups. The hot beverage cups – introduced in 2014 and boarded on all E175 flights – are recyclable and made in the United States from 50 percent recycled materials.

Top Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Shuttle America’s Embraer ERJ 170-100SE N639RW (msn 17000057) taxies at the Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) hub.

United Express-Shuttle America aircraft slide show:

Republic Airways Holdings reports net income of $64.3 million for 2014

Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (Republic Airlines and Shuttle America) (Indianapolis) has reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2014. The company reported net income of $64.3 million for 2014, a significant increase from its net income of $26.7 million in 2013.

As planned, Chautauqua Airlines ended operations on December 31, 2014 and was rolled into Shuttle America as previously reported.

The company issued this report:

Republic’s pre-tax income excluding special items, for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $32.1 million, an 8.4 percent increase over the fourth quarter or 2013. Republic’s adjusted income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $19.8 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, and its adjusted pre-tax margin was 9.3 percent.

For the full year of 2014, Republic’s pre-tax income, excluding special items, was $120.2 million, a $17.7 million increase over 2013. Republic’s adjusted income from continuing operations for 2014 was $73.4 million, or $1.40 per diluted share, with an adjusted pre-tax margin of 8.7 percent.

On a GAAP basis, including special items, Republic’s fourth quarter 2014 pre-tax loss was $1.4 million, pre-tax margin was -0.4 percent and income from continuing operations was $11.7 million, or $0.23 per diluted share. On a GAAP basis, including special items, Republic’s 2014 pre-tax income was $85.2 million, pre-tax margin was 6.2 percent and income from continuing operations was $64.3 million, or $1.24 per diluted share.

On January 1, 2015, Republic completed its consolidation of all Chautauqua Airlines operations onto the Shuttle America operating certificate. All operating aircraft and related employees are now transferred to Shuttle America’s operation. Republic hopes to sell the remaining Chautauqua Airlines entity and related assets during the first half of 2015.

During the fourth quarter of 2014, Republic extended the service terms of aircraft under its fixed-fee capacity purchase agreements with US Airways, Inc. and Delta Air Lines, Inc. Republic also agreed to operate an additional nine E170 aircraft for Delta Air Lines, Inc.

“We took some significant steps in 2014 in our effort to simplify and streamline our business,” said Republic Airways Holdings Chairman, President and CEO Bryan Bedford. “While this simplification strategy results in near-term transition expenses, such as the fleet impairment charge we took this quarter, the actions that we’ve taken in 2014 and that we intend to take in 2015 are key to the future success of our airline.”

The impairment and other charges in 2014 were due to impairment and other charges on owned E140 aircraft which were abandoned of $19.9 million; owned E190 aircraft which are in the process of being sold of $14.4 million; owned Q400 aircraft which are scheduled to come out of service in the third quarter of 2016 of $13.3 million, and a loss on sale of E190 aircraft of $5.8 million. The 2013 impairment charges of $21.2 million related to owned E190 aircraft and the write-off of maintenance deposits on leased E190 aircraft.

Fleet Highlights

During 2014, our operational fleet decreased from 258 to 244. The company took delivery of 22 E175 aircraft, permanently parked 15 E140 aircraft, temporarily parked 13 E145 aircraft, sold two E190 aircraft and leased three E145 aircraft and three E190 aircraft.

During 2014, we took delivery of 22 E175 aircraft and removed 28 small regional jets.

In December 2014, we completed the sale of two E190 aircraft and executed an agreement to sell three other E190 aircraft. The sale of these five aircraft will leave us with two owned E190 aircraft and three leased E190 aircraft that are expected to be removed from fixed-fee charter service in August of 2015. We expect to return the three leased aircraft to the lessor in 2015 and the remaining two aircraft are under a firm sales agreement.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

The Company’s total cash balance decreased $55.1 million to $245.6 million as of Dec. 31, 2014, compared to Dec. 31, 2013. Restricted cash decreased $2.3 million, to $21.7 million, from Dec. 31, 2013, due to the escrow requirements under our fixed-fee charter agreements. The Company’s unrestricted cash balance decreased $52.8 million, to $223.9 million, from Dec. 31, 2013, due primarily to equity investments in new aircraft and the redemption of the $22.3 million and $26.5 million convertible notes on April 7, 2014, and Oct. 28, 2014, respectively. The Company also purchased 212,881 shares of its common stock on the open market, during the third quarter of 2014 for total consideration of $2.1 million. A consolidated balance sheet and summary cash flow statement have been included in the tables section of this release.

The Company’s debt increased to $2.34 billion as of Dec. 31, 2014, compared to $2.17 billion at Dec. 31, 2013, primarily related to the financing of 22, new E175 aircraft purchased for our American Airlines fixed-fee agreement. As of Dec. 31, 2014, approximately 98 percent of our debt is at a fixed interest rate. The Company has significant long-term lease obligations for aircraft that are classified as operating leases and are not reflected as liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. At a 6 percent discount factor, the present value of these lease obligations was approximately $0.48 billion and $0.59 billion as of Dec. 31, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2013, respectively.

Corporate Information

Republic Airways Holdings Inc., based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is an airline holding company that owns Republic Airlines, Shuttle America and Chautauqua Airlines, collectively “the airlines.” As of Dec. 31, 2014, the airlines operated a combined fleet of about 245 aircraft and offered scheduled passenger service on more than 1,300 flights daily to approximately 100 cities in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean through fixed-fee flights operated under our major airline partner brands, including American Eagle, Delta Connection, United Express, and US Airways Express. The Company currently employs about 6,500 aviation professionals.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. During 2014 Republic took delivery of 22 Embraer E175 aircraft. Republic Airlines’ Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N415YX (msn 17000378) arrives in Washington (Reagan National).

American Eagle-Republic Airlines:

American to drop American Eagle service between Louisville and New York LaGuardia

American Airlines (New York) will drop American Eagle nonstop service between Louisville, Kentucky and New York (LaGuardia) on March 29 due to low demand according to Louisville Business First.

The route is operated by Republic Airlines (2nd) using Embraer ERJ 175s.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N421YX (msn 17000386) taxies at Baltimore/Washington.

American Eagle aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/American-Eagle-2nd-Republic-Ai

Finnair sells three Embraer 170 aircraft

Finnair (Helsinki) has sold three Embraer ERJ 170s as the airline right sizes its fleet. The company issued this statement:

On May 5, 2014 Finnair Aircraft Finance Oy, Finnair’s fleet management subsidiary, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the sale of three Embraer 170 aircraft to affiliates of Infinity Aviation Capital LLC, a US-based aircraft leasing company. The transactions have now been finalized, and their total value was approximately $40 million. The sale of the three aircraft does not have significant impact on Finnair’s 2014 result.

The transactions are a part of Finnair’s aim to focus on its core business. After the sale, Finnair Aircraft Finance owns only aircraft operated by Finnair or its affiliated company Flybe Finland.

Copyright Photo: Paul Denton/AirlinersGallery.com. The remaining Finnair E170s are now operated by Flybe Nordic. The pictured ERJ 170-100STD OH-LEM (msn 17000141) in the old 2000 livery is now going to AeroMexico Connect.

Video: Santa’s Secret:

Finnair aircraft slide show:

Alitalia begins new service to Berlin and Dusseldorf due to its new relationship with Airberlin

Alitalia (2nd) (Rome) yesterday (December 15) began new service from Rome (Fiumicino), Milan (Linate) and Venice to Berlin (Tegel) and Dusseldorf. The first Alitalia flights to the two German cities took off from Milan Linate Airport at 6.30 am (flight AZ 418 to Dusseldorf) and 6:35 am (flight AZ 406 to Berlin), while the new flights from Rome and Venice departed later in the day.

The new daily service to Berlin and Dusseldorf will operate, for the winter season, with an Embraer 175 aircraft configured in two classes of service: “Ottima” – Alitalia’s business class on international flights, and “Classica”, the economy class. During the summer season, which will begin in March 2015, these routes will be operated with higher capacity aircraft.

The new service between Italy and Germany is very important for Alitalia from a strategic point of view. With the introduction of the new flights to Berlin and Dusseldorf, Alitalia will offer 370,000 more seats to Germany in 2015, an increase of +66%, compared to 2014, expanding its network, which was limited to flights from Rome to Munich and from Rome and Milan Linate to Frankfurt.

All new flights launched are in codeshare with Airberlin, the second largest German airline, in accordance with the codeshare agreement between the two companies launched on October 26, 2014.

Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) EI-RDC (msn 17000333) taxies at Zurich.

Alitalia aircraft slide show:

AeroMexico announces a new route to Managua, Nicaragua

AeroMexico (Mexico City) has announced the beginning of its new service with six weekly flights between its Mexico City hub and Managua.

This is the sixth destination in Central America and its 16th in Latin America.

The new AeroMexico Connect route will be served with six weekly flights with 76-seat Embraer 170 aircraft.

Copyright Photo: Rurik Enriquez/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-100SU XA-ACP (msn 17000019) arrives in Mexico City.

AeroMexico aircraft slide show:

AeroMexico Connect aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Mexico/Airlines-Mexico-AZ/AeroMexico-Connect

Shuttle America to operate nine additional Embraer ERJ 170s for Delta Air Lines

Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (Indianapolis) has announced it has reached an amendment to its Capacity Purchase Agreement (“CPA”) with Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) to operate nine additional 69-seat Embraer ERJ 170 (E170) aircraft. The aircraft are scheduled to be placed into service between the 3rd quarter of 2015 and the 2nd quarter of 2016 and will operate for a term of six years per aircraft. In addition, the Company and Delta have agreed to extend the term of the agreement for the existing 14 ERJ 170 aircraft by four years, or through October 2021, and the existing 16 ERJ 175 aircraft by approximately five years, or through February 2024. Both types are operated for Delta by subsidiary Shuttle America.

The nine additional ERJ 170 aircraft will either be sourced internally by the Company or with used aircraft available in the open market.

Republic Airways Holdings Inc., based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is an airline holding company that owns Chautauqua Airlines, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-100SU N870RW (msn 17000138) arrives in Washington (Reagan National).

Delta Connection-Shuttle America aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Delta-Connection-Shuttle

American to add Gogo inflight wireless services to all two-class regional jets

American Airlines Group (Dallas/Fort Worth) has announced as a part of its $2 billion investment to give customers a world-class travel experience, American Airlines will upgrade its regional fleet by adding Gogo inflight wireless services to all two-class regional jets. Nearly 250 of American’s regional aircraft will have inflight wireless Internet service installed by 2016. With this installation, the world’s largest airline will have the largest fleet of connected regional jets.

American currently has nearly 850 aircraft with Gogo services and leverages Gogo’s air-to-ground (ATG) service and its next generation ATG-4 technology. Approximately 70 of these 850 aircraft are two-class regional jets.

Having ordered more than 500 new aircraft – with nearly two planes arriving each week through 2016 – American will offer customers the youngest fleet of any U.S.-based network carrier. New aircraft deliveries include 90 large regional jets, the Embraer 175 and Bombardier CRJ900. These modern and fuel-efficient 76-seat jets provide customers with a top-tier regional product with First Class, Main Cabin Extra and Main Cabin seating, larger overhead bins, more spacious lavatories and leather seats with adjustable headrests.

The American Eagle and US Airways Express regional networks operate about 2,600 daily flights for American Airlines and US Airways, respectively. These flights serve 240 destinations throughout the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Mexico. Eventually all regional service will be operated under the American Eagle brand and livery.

American marked the one-year anniversary of its merger earlier this week by announcing more than $2 billion in investments to give its customers a world-class travel experience. These investments include expanding inflight entertainment and connectivity. The airline is adding satellite-based Internet access to its international fleet including all Boeing 777s and 787s, Airbus A330s, and retrofitted Boeing 767-300s and 757s. New 737s, nearly all new A321s, as well as retrofitted A319s also will have power ports in every row. All new widebody deliveries, including 777-300 ERs and 787s, come with power at every seat, allowing customers to charge their laptops and personal electronic devices from gate to gate. American also will be investing in fully lie-flat seats, more inflight entertainment options, a new, modern design for Admirals Club lounges worldwide, and an upgraded assortment of complimentary healthy food, cocktails and more.

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. Republic Airlines’ (2nd) Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N137HQ (msn 17000231) arrives at the Charlotte hub.

American Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):

American Eagle-Republic aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/American-Eagle-2nd-Republic-Ai

Delta to drop four more routes from Memphis

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) continues to dismantle the Memphis hub. According to The Commerical Appeal of Memphis, the airline will drop all service from MEM to Dallas/Fort Worth, New Orleans and Pittsburgh on January 5, 2015. The airline claims the MEM routes that are being dropped are “unprofitable” A fourth route, to Washington (Reagan National), will be dropped on April 7, 2015. 84 positions at the MEM station are being eliminated according to the report.

The routes are operated with Embraer 170/175s.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N215JQ (msn 17000270) prepares to land in Washington (Reagan National).

Delta Air Lines aircraft slide show (current livery):

Delta Connection-Shuttle America:

Air France to combine its short-haul, point-to-point operations under the HOP! Air France brand

Air France (Paris) will combine its short-haul, point-to-point operations under the HOP! Air France brand starting in the summer of 2015. Air France is reorganizing it short haul operations due to the increased competition for other low-cost airlines and other forms of travel. The airline issued this statement:

The organization proposal for the Air France Group’s short-haul activity, bringing together Air France’s point-to-point activity and HOP!, was presented this during the Air France Works Council meeting.

This proposal is based on the recommendations of a group of experts submitted to Frédéric Gagey on June 30: for each market need there must be a corresponding and adapted commercial offer and economic model, whether in terms of costs or revenue.

Starting from the summer season 2015, the short-haul activity will be operated by HOP! Air France. Its objective will be to quickly generate value for the Group, and recover profitability on the short-haul market within three years.

A new commercial offer will be introduced to the market during the first quarter of 2015, under the brand name HOP! with the backing of Air France .

This project includes the implementation of a new, simplified structure.

Presented by Lionel Guérin, Chairman and CEO of HOP!, tasked with implementing the new HOP! Air France activity, it will bring together the Air France Point to Point teams from Paray Vieille Poste and the HOP! teams from Rungis at a single center in Montreuil, close to the French market sales agents. There will be no modification, transfer of employment contracts, or transfer of the teams based at Roissy or elsewhere in France.

This new structure will come into effect at the beginning of 2015, for operational implementation from the summer 2015 season onwards.

Frédéric Gagey, Air France Chairman and CEO, added: “The short-haul activity is in competition with trains, cars, and low-cost airlines. We need to restructure our company to be even more responsive, market-oriented and close to our customers. HOP! Air France provides a response adapted to the specific characteristics of the short-haul carrier activity and the travel needs of our customers. I am counting on the efforts of all staff to achieve the ambitious targets for this business”.

The new HOP! Air France will operate 800 flights a day.

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-100STD F-HBXB (msn 17000250) arrives at EuroAirport serving the Base, Mulhouse and Freiburg area.

HOP! aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-2/Airlines-Europe-2/Hop-For-Air-France