Brazilian aircraft builder Embraer has secured an order it values at $2.8 billion to deliver new regional jets to Horizon Air. The contract also includes options for an additional 33 aircraft of the same model, the E175.
Deliveries will start in 2Q 2017.
Horizon Air is an Alaska Air Group subsidiary that serves 39 cities in the U.S. and Canada.
The E175 is one of the smaller jets in the OEM’s E-Jet series, with 70-130 seats and powered by twin GE Aviation CF34-8E engines. Since it was introduced to commercial service in 2004, Embraer has logged over 1,700 orders and delivered over 1,200 of the regional aircraft. The jets are in service for 70 customers (both regional airlines and mainline carriers) in 50 countries.
Embraer has sold 332 E175s to airlines in North America since January 2013. The Alaska Air family currently flies E175 aircraft in routes served by its SkyWest Airlines. The new aircraft will fly exclusively for Alaska Airlines.
For Horizon Air, the E175s will be configured with 76 seats in a three-class layout: 12 first-class seats, 16 premium-class seats, and 48 seats in the main cabin.
“The E175s position Horizon for growth beyond our current West Coast destinations while providing better customer utility in the growing Alaska Airlines network,” stated the airline’ president, David Campbell.
“The spacious E175 offers a passenger experience that’s on par with much larger jets,” he continued. “This aircraft opens up tremendous new opportunities to fly to new places that would not have been feasible with our existing aircraft.”
The E175s supplied to Horizon Air will incorporate aerodynamic enhancements introduced by Embraer in 2014, including new wingtips, and other technical improvements that reduce fuel burn.
“To be chosen by Horizon to expand their fleet with the E175, is a great honor for Embraer. It recognizes the great economics that this aircraft offers,” stated Paulo Cesar Silva, Embraer Commercial Aviation president and CEO.
