Orders keep trickling through at this year’s busy Farnborough Airshow, this time with Alaska Air Group placing an order for more Embraer E175 examples.
Today’s (July 19) deal sees the US-based Alaska Air Group order eight new E175s, plus options for a further 13 additional airframes – valued at US$1.12bn based on list prices.
They will be flown exclusively for Alaska Airlines under a ‘Capacity Purchase Agreement’ with Horizon Air and, according to the Brazilian manufacturer, jets from today’s contract are planned for handover over a four-year period, commencing from Q2 of next year.
Despite having just 76 seats, they will feature a three-class configuration. This consists of space for 12 in First, the same number in Premium, complemented by the remaining 52 in economy, with a seat pitch of 36-38in, 34in and 31in, respectively.
Nat Pieper, senior vice president of fleet, finance and alliances for Alaska Airlines, commented: “The E175 is an extremely efficient aircraft. The jet is the perfect aircraft to serve Horizon’s regional network in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Our guests will enjoy a consistent, three-class cabin experience as they travel from smaller communities to catch flights across Alaska’s larger hubs or on one of our many global airline partners.”
Mark Neely, VP Americas, Embraer Commercial Aviation, added: “The E175 is the backbone of the US regional network, feeding airport hubs across the country as well as producing the connectivity all communities need to thrive, both economically and socially. While this market is currently under pressure, it is essential that carriers are able to provide these essential services to the entire United States. The Embraer E175, with 85% market share in its segment, is keeping the US on the move and in touch.”
Horizon Air serves more than 45 cities, ranging from locations in the Pacific Northwest, California, the Midwest, to British Columbia and Alberta in Canada. At present, the airline fields 30 E175s, in addition to 31 examples of the De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 turboprop.
Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines are subsidiaries of the Alaska Air Group.
At the time of writing, Embraer state there are currently 601 E175s serving US operators.
