Tag Archives: Embraer

Finnair receives permission to transfer its 60% share of Nordic Regional Airlines

Finnair (Helsinki) has announced its has received permission to transfer its 60 percent stock ownership in Nordic Regional Airlines to StaffPoint Holding Oy and Kilco Oy. Finnair wiill retain a 40 percent interest in the regional feeder airline. Here is the official statement:

The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority has approved the transaction in which Finnair transfers 60% of the shares in Nordic Regional Airlines AB to StaffPoint Holding Oy and Kilco Oy. Upon completion of the sale, StaffPoint’s ownership in the joint venture will be 45%, Kilco’s 15% and Finnair’s 40%. The transaction is expected to close in November 2015.

Finnair-Nordic Regional aircraft slide show:

Copyright Photo Below: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. Nordic Regional operates ATR 72s and Embraer regional jets for Finnair in Finnair colors. Embraer ERJ 190-100LR OH-LKL (msn 19000153) taxies at Zurich.

https://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-2/Airlines-Europe-2/Finnair-Nordic-Regional/i-cHhGWnd

Colorful Guizhou Airlines to commence operations

Colorful Guizhou ERJ 190-100 (15)(Flt)(Embraer)(LRW)

Colorful Guizhou Airlines (Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China) has announced it will commence operations on December 28 with Embraer E190s. As previously announced by Embraer on June 15, 2015, the manufacturer had concluded an agreement with the new airline for 17 E190s.

CGA is the first locally-owned airline in China’s Guizhou Province. The contract is for seven firm orders with the first delivery in December 2015.

Colorful Guizhou Airlines is Embraer’s fifth E-Jet customer in China and the first in the southwest of the country.

Colorful Guizhou Airlines was established by the Guizhou Industrial Investment (Group) Company, Limited.

CGA will target operating to cities in Guizhou and neighboring provinces. Its entrance marks the end of the absence of a locally-owned airline in Guizhou and the start of improvements to regional aviation in western China.

The scope of the carrier’s business covers transport of cargo, aviation advertising, mail delivery, cabin supply, catering industry, tourism and real estate industry. The airline is expected to start flying in 2015. The fleet plan calls for 30 aircraft by 2020, and between 120 and 140 in the future.”

Image: Embraer.

Alaska launches four new routes today

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Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) today began flying four new routes that enhance its West Coast network. The new routes are between: Portland, Oregon, and Austin, Texas; Eugene, Oregon, and San Jose, California; Los Angeles and Monterey, California; and Boise, Idaho and Reno, Nevada.

All flights, except the Portland-Austin route, will be operated by Alaska’s sister carrier Horizon Air, using a 76-seat Bombardier Q400 aircraft.

The Portland-Austin flights will be operated for Alaska by SkyWest Airlines, using new 76-seat Embraer 175 jets. The E175 jet features 12 seats in first class and 64 in coach, and with cabin dimensions on par with a 737.

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Alaska SkyWest (SkyWest Airlines) Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N171SY (msn 17000485)

Alaska Horizon aircraft slide show:

Alaska SkyWest aircraft slide show:

SkyWest reports a 3Q net profit of $36 million

SkyWest, Inc. (SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet Airlines) (St. George, Utah) today reported financial and operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2015.

SkyWest generated $36 million of net income for Q3 2015, or $0.71 per diluted share. Excluding special items, SkyWest’s net income for Q3 2014 was approximately $26 million, or $0.50 per diluted share.

Operating income for Q3 2015 was $78 million, an increase of 32% from Q3 2014 of $59 million.

SkyWest reported $77 million of net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, or $1.49 per diluted share, a $88 million improvement from the corresponding period of 2014, which had net loss of $11 million, excluding 2014 special items.

Commenting on the results, Chip Childs, SkyWest, Inc. President said, “Our third quarter results reflect continued progress in the optimization of our fleet and flying contract mix. These improvements, along with solid operating performance, have contributed to our increasing operating margins. Additionally, we look forward to operating the E175 aircraft with three of our major partners by mid-2016, and we believe our operating performance continues to create additional opportunities to improve our fleet mix and operating margins.”

Fleet Information:

Total aircraft in service at September 30, 2015 was 656, a net decrease of 84 aircraft from September 30, 2014 of 740 aircraft. Changes in SkyWest’s fleet mix are as follows:

Added 26 new E175 aircraft with United Airlines (“United”)
Added three new E175 aircraft with Alaska Airlines (“Alaska”)
Added twelve used CRJ200 aircraft with Delta Air Lines (“Delta”)
Added 16 used ERJ145 aircraft with American Airlines (“American”)

Combined, 57 aircraft were added year-over-year

Removed 36 EMB120 30-seat turbo-prop aircraft (“EMB120s”) from multiple partners
Removed 69 ERJ145/135 aircraft from service from United
Removed 36 CRJ200 aircraft from service with multiple partners

Combined, 141 aircraft were removed year-over-year

SkyWest’s aircraft in service decreased by 20 net aircraft from June 30, 2015 to September 30, 2015, with changes in fleet mix as follows:

Added five new E175 aircraft with United
Removed eleven ERJ145 aircraft from service with United
Removed 14 CRJ200 aircraft from service from multiple major airline partners

Under its fleet transition, SkyWest generated approximately 24,800 additional block hours with its dual class aircraft (CRJ700s/900s and E175s) during Q3 2015, compared to Q3 2014.

SkyWest also had a reduction of approximately 89,000 block hours with its less profitable 50-seat and smaller aircraft (CRJ200s, ERJ145s/135s and EMB120s) during Q3 2015, compared to Q3 2014.

Under an agreement announced in Q3 2015, SkyWest Airlines is scheduled to place 18 additional new E175 aircraft into service with United, with anticipated scheduled delivery dates from Q4 2016 to Q2 2017. SkyWest Airlines is currently scheduled to have a total of 58 E175s in service with United by the end of Q2 2017.

Under a previously announced agreement, SkyWest Airlines is scheduled to take delivery of twelve new E175 aircraft for Alaska from Q4 2015 to Q4 2016. SkyWest is currently scheduled to have a total of 15 E175s in service with Alaska by the end of Q4 2016.

Under an agreement announced last week, SkyWest Airlines is scheduled to take delivery of 19 new E175 aircraft for Delta from Q3 2016 through mid-2017.

The following reflects expected E175 aircraft that SkyWest anticipates will be placed into service by period:
Airline Q4 2015 2016 2017   Cumulative Total End of 2017
United – 7 11 58
Delta –   13 6 19
Alaska   2   10 –   15
Total 2   30 17

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. SkyWest Airlines is already operating the Embraer 175 for Alaska Airlines. Alaska Skywest-titled Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N170SY (msn 17000483) taxies at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

Alaska SkyWest aircraft slide show:

SkyWest to operate 19 new Embraer 175s for Delta

SkyWest, Inc. (SkyWest Airlines) (St. George, Utah) today issued this statement:

SkyWest, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA) with Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) to operate 19 new Embraer E175 dual-class regional jet aircraft. SkyWest has determined that these 19 E175 aircraft will be operated by SkyWest Airlines, Inc. (St. George) a wholly-owned subsidiary of SkyWest. The CPA is under terms and conditions similar to SkyWest’s existing Delta agreements.

“SkyWest is a longtime Delta partner, and we’re pleased to advance our partnership with an additional aircraft type,” said Chip Childs, SkyWest, Inc. President. “As we continue to evolve our fleet mix, we look forward to continuing to deliver what our partners need through solid, reliable service.”

The aircraft will be flown in dual-class configuration of 76-seats, and will be equipped with Wi-Fi. Under the agreement, it is anticipated that delivery of the aircraft will begin in August 2016, with all 19 aircraft being delivered by mid-2017.

In related news, Embraer and SkyWest, Inc. have signed a firm order for an additional 19 E175s jets. The aircraft will be flown by SkyWest Airlines, Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of SkyWest, under a Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA) with Delta Air Lines. The transaction will be included in Embraer’s 2015 fourth-quarter backlog. Delivery of the first aircraft is expected for the third-quarter of 2016.

SkyWest Airlines currently operates the E175 for Alaska Airlines (Alaska SkyWest) and United Airlines (United Express).

Image: Embraer.

Delta Connection-SkyWest aircraft slide show:

Delta to connect its Seattle/Tacoma hub with Orange County

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) will added Embraer 175 Delta Connection service (operated by Compass Airlines) between its Seattle/Tacoma hub and Orange County (John Wayne) starting on May 1, 2016.

The airline made this announcement:

Delta Air Lines’ hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will continue to grow next spring with the launch of four daily flights to Orange County’s John Wayne Airport beginning May 1, 2016.

In all, Delta will launch service to ten destinations from Seattle/Tacoma between November 2015 and May 2016: Billings, Montana.; Boston; Cancun, Mexico; Edmonton, Alberta; Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island; Missoula, Montana; Orange County; Orlando; Pasco, Washington; and Victoria, British Columbia. Some service may be operated by Delta Connection carriers SkyWest Airlines and Compass Airlines.

Delta’s Seattle/Tacoma to Orange County flights will be operated by Delta Connection carrier Compass Airlines using Embraer 175 aircraft.

In other news, Delta will operate weekly Boeing 737-800 Cuban charters from Atlanta to Havana starting on April 2, 2016.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Compass Airlines’ Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N612CZ (msn 17000201) taxies to the runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Delta Air Lines aircraft slide show (current livery):

Delta Connection-Compass aircraft slide show:

JetBlue adds Wi-Fi to its first Embraer 190

JetBlue Airways (New York) today announced it has passed a major milestone on its path to becoming the only U.S. carrier to offer free high-speed Wi-Fi Internet on every aircraft.

JetBlue has completed installation of Fly-Fi® on its fleet of more than 150 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, and its first Fly-Fi-enabled Embraer E190 made its official inaugural flight this week. The airline anticipates it will complete the installation of Fly-Fi on all 60 of its E190s by fall 2016, at which point it will have completed installation of Fly-Fi on the entire JetBlue fleet.

Fly-Fi uses Ka-band satellite technology to offer a broadband Internet experience similar to what customers have at home, including the ability to stream video and use multiple devices at once.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. JetBlue Airways Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N334JB (msn 19000446) in the Barcode tail scheme taxies at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).

JetBlue aircraft slide show:

Republic Airways Holdings disputes Delta’s complaint

Republic Airways Holdings (Shuttle America) (Indianapolis) has issued this statement disputing a reported lawsuit by Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) claiming the carrier failed to fly its full contracted schedule according to the Indianapolis Business Journal:

Republic Airways Holdings Inc. has been made aware of a complaint filed by Delta. The Company has not been served and has not received the full complaint and therefore cannot comment further on the matter at this time. Republic can confirm that the Company is not in breach of any of its capacity purchase agreements with any of its mainline partners, including both Delta Connection Agreements.

Republic Airways Holdings Inc., based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is an airline holding company that owns Republic Airlines and Shuttle America, collectively called “the airlines.” The airlines operate a combined fleet of about 240 aircraft and offer scheduled passenger service with approximately 1,250 flights daily to about 100 cities in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean through fixed-fee flights operated under our major airline partner brands of American Eagle, Delta Connection, United Express and US Airways Express. The airlines currently employ about 6,500 aviation professionals.

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. Shuttle America Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N202JQ (msn 17000240) in Delta Connection colors climbs away from Boston’s Logan International Airport.

Delta Connection-Shuttle America aircraft slide show:

Mesa Airlines to add 15 Embraer 175s to the United contract

Mesa Airlines, Inc. (Phoenix) has announced an agreement with United Airlines (Chicago) to add 15 Embraer 175 aircraft to Mesa’s United Express fleet. Mesa currently operates 30 Embraer aircraft for United Airlines. In addition to the E175s, Mesa operates 20 Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft under the United Express brand.

The E175’s 76-seat dual-class configuration features 12 First-Class, 16 Premium Economy and 48 Coach seats. The aircraft has Inflight Wi-Fi connectivity, leather seating and electric outlets in First Class.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Mesa Airlines’ Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N85320 (msn 17000454) arrives at Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA).

United Express-Mesa aircraft slide show:

JetBlue Airways to launch Syracuse – Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood flights this winter

JetBlue Airways (New York) today announced it will begin seasonal nonstop service between Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) this winter.

JetBlue will operate once daily round-trip service between the two cities seasonally from January 13, 2016 through Sunday, May 1, 2016.

JetBlue first began operating flights in Syracuse in 2001 and now serves eight airports across New York State with Albany set to become number nine in December. New Yorkers have long supported JetBlue as a leading carrier in the region and the airline continues to grow across the state.

This year JetBlue will operate up to 95 flights daily at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport which serves as one of JetBlue’s Florida gateways to the airline’s expanding network. Destinations from South Florida now include Bogota, Colombia and Lima, Peru. New destinations including Mexico City and Quito, Ecuador launch in the coming months.

Flight Schedule

FLL-SYR Flight #1738 SYR-FLL Flight #1737

11:30 a.m. – 2:33 p.m. 3:10 p.m. – 6:31 p.m.

JetBlue will serve the route with its Embraer 190 aircraft.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. JetBlue Airways Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N324JB (msn 19000388) in the Blueberries tail design taxies to the runway at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).

JetBlue aircraft slide show: