Flybe has announced an order for up to 140 Embraer E Series aircraft to aid its expansion into Europe.
The deal comprises 35 firm orders of 88-seat Embraer 175 aircraft to the value of US $1.3 billion with options for 65 more and purchase rights for a further 40, making a potential total order worth $5 billion.
The first aircraft is due to be delivered in September 2011 and the final of the firm orders by March 2017.
Flybe Chairman and Chief Executive Jim French CBE, said: "The 175 will allow us to preserve our two fleet strategy and the economic and environmental performance of the aircraft is in line with Flybe’s policy of only buying A and B rated eco-label aircraft as part of its commitment to invest in lower emission new technology aircraft.
"The 175 will give Flybe significant added capacity and is particularly suited to the sector lengths prevalent in Europe that we are most interested in exploiting.”
He also challenged regional airline manufacturers to develop a new form of jet to be available by 2017. “We want manufacturers to combine the economic and environmental performance of the turboprop with the positive benefits of jet performance. Such a combination will provide the right technological platform from 2020 onwards."
Flybe is Europe’s largest regional airline and the UK’s largest domestic airline
with 203 routes serving 13 countries from a total of 70 departure points.
