AC kjøper Embraer 175

[CK]

Air Canada will become the launch customer for the Embraer 175 with 15 firm orders plus 15 options for the 73-seat jet. The firm orders are valued at $420 million and the potential value is $840 million if all options are converted. Embraer expects to complete certification for the 175 by year end and deliveries are set to begin by July. The aircraft for AC will be configured for dual-class seating. In Sept., AC reached an agreement for 45 Embraer 190s plus 45 options with deliveries expected to begin by the end of 2005 (ATWOnline, Sept. 30). AC also signed an agreement with Bombardier for a firm order of 30 aircraft--15 CRJ700 Series 705s and 15 CRJ 200s--with 15 conditional orders for CRJ200s. Air Canada Jazz, a wholly owned subsidiary, will operate the Bombardier aircraft.--Sandra Arnoult

http://www.atwonline.com/indexfull.cfm?newsid=4744&CMP=NLC-dailynewsletter

PRESSEMELDING FRA EMBRAER:
11/12/2004
AIR CANADA ADDS TO EMBRAER ORDER WITH 15 EMBRAER 175s

Embraer today announced an order from Air Canada for 15 EMBRAER 175 airliners, plus options for an additional 15 aircraft, adding to its order placed earlier this year for 45 firm and 45 option EMBRAER 190 aircraft. Deliveries of the EMBRAER 175s are set to begin in July 2005.
At list price, the order for the 15 EMBRAER 175s is valued at US$ 420 million (CAD$ 507.86 million), with a potential value of US$ 840 million (CAD$ 1.016 billion) if all options are converted. With this formal purchase agreement, Air Canada becomes the first customer for the EMBRAER 175.

Air Canada signed an agreement in September for 45 EMBRAER 190s, with options for 45 additional aircraft. Those aircraft will begin delivery in late 2005 following final certification, while Brazilian and U.S. certification of the EMBRAER 175 is expected by the end of this year.

“Having an important and prestigious airline such as Air Canada as the first EMBRAER 175 operator worldwide is a distinction that honors and motivates all of us at Embraer. Air Canada has shown foresight in looking to smaller airliners as a key component of its future success, and we are happy to be a part of its strategy,” said Embraer President and CEO Maurício Botelho. “Like other airlines with an eye on the future, Air Canada will reap the benefits of a new family of aircraft specifically designed for the market niche between 70 and 110 seats, with its unprecedented combination of economics, performance and comfort, benefiting operators and passengers.”

“Together with the EMBRAER 190, the EMBRAER 175 will give Air Canada a competitive edge in offering high frequency, low-cost services on new and existing routes in Canada and the United States,” said Robert Milton, President and Chief Executive Officer.“I am confident our customers will be favorably impressed with the comfortable travel experience provided by these aircraft.”

The EMBRAER 175s for Air Canada will be configured for 73 seats in dual-class configuration – nine Executive Class seats at 39-inch pitch, and 64 Hospitality seats at 32-inch pitch