Embraer 170 finds its bearings as first airplanes enter service

Brazil’s Embraer delivered its first batch of newly certified Embraer 170s to three customers last month, just as the company prepared to score a major U.S

By Gregory Polek • Senior Editor

March 30, 2007

Brazil’s Embraer delivered its first batch of newly certified Embraer 170s to three customers last month, just as the company prepared to score a major U.S. sale for the 70- to 78-seat twinjet. Indianapolis-based Republic Airlines–the sister company of Embraer devotee Chautauqua Airlines–will become the second U.S. airline to commit to the company’s newest product under a plan to press into service 16 of the airplanes for its newly signed code-share partnership with United Airlines (see “Regionals Update”on opposite page).

Meanwhile, Embraer appeared ready to deal another humiliating blow to rival Bombardier, after Air Canada told representatives from its mainline pilot union that it wants to replace half of its recent tentative order for thirty 75-seat CRJ705s with 15 Embraer 170s or 175s. In December bankrupt Air Canada split an order for 90 airplanes between the two manufacturers, but ongoing negotiations over regional and mainline flying rights have prompted Air Canada to reconsider the planned fleet mix and place the Embraer jets with the mainline, convert the remaining 15 positions on CRJ705s to an order for 70-seat CRJ700s, and award those to Air Canada Jazz.

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