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A Brazilian plane manufacturer, Embraer, has a new plane on the market, and Tempe-based US Airways is a fan.
The carrier has ordered 25 of the planes, the first of which will go into service at its Philadelphia hub in December.
"This is filling a hole in the lineup that's existed for some time," said Andrew Nocella, senior vice president of planning.
The Embraer 190 jet, which looks like a Boeing 737 on a diet, was designed to appeal to airlines looking for something bigger than traditional regional jets and smaller than a Boeing or Airbus narrow-body jet.
Embraer officials took US Airways executives on a demonstration flight to Tucson.
The plan debuted at JetBlue Airways in November. The $32 million plane can accommodate up to 106 passengers without first class and about 100 with first class. Many regional jets have 50 seats.
The Embraer 190 has range. Air Canada flies it between Phoenix and Toronto.
Embraer's main sales pitch, though, is passenger comfort. It touts wider seats, wider aisles, no middle seat and larger overhead bins. Mark Hale, vice president of airline marketing and sales, even shows off the restroom, noting that it's "bigger than Airbus."
US Airways' Embraer 190s also will have first-class seats.
"You still feel like you're on a large airplane," said Gary Blohm, chief pilot of contract training for US Airways and the initial trainer of US Airways pilots on the Embraer 190. He will pick up US Airways' first plane in Brazil this fall.
From Phoenix, the new planes could be used to add an early-morning flight from, say, Atlanta to Phoenix, Nocella said. There is not enough demand to justify an Airbus plane at that hour, he said.
"This would be a great opportunity to fill a hole in the schedule," he said.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/t...et0805Z10.html
The carrier has ordered 25 of the planes, the first of which will go into service at its Philadelphia hub in December.
"This is filling a hole in the lineup that's existed for some time," said Andrew Nocella, senior vice president of planning.
The Embraer 190 jet, which looks like a Boeing 737 on a diet, was designed to appeal to airlines looking for something bigger than traditional regional jets and smaller than a Boeing or Airbus narrow-body jet.
Embraer officials took US Airways executives on a demonstration flight to Tucson.
The plan debuted at JetBlue Airways in November. The $32 million plane can accommodate up to 106 passengers without first class and about 100 with first class. Many regional jets have 50 seats.
The Embraer 190 has range. Air Canada flies it between Phoenix and Toronto.
Embraer's main sales pitch, though, is passenger comfort. It touts wider seats, wider aisles, no middle seat and larger overhead bins. Mark Hale, vice president of airline marketing and sales, even shows off the restroom, noting that it's "bigger than Airbus."
US Airways' Embraer 190s also will have first-class seats.
"You still feel like you're on a large airplane," said Gary Blohm, chief pilot of contract training for US Airways and the initial trainer of US Airways pilots on the Embraer 190. He will pick up US Airways' first plane in Brazil this fall.
From Phoenix, the new planes could be used to add an early-morning flight from, say, Atlanta to Phoenix, Nocella said. There is not enough demand to justify an Airbus plane at that hour, he said.
"This would be a great opportunity to fill a hole in the schedule," he said.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/t...et0805Z10.html
. Whereas the market for small mainline planes like the E170-195 is booming 
.
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