United Airlines To Add More Embraer E175 Aircraft To United Express Fleet

(RTTNews) - United Continental Holdings, Inc.'s (UAL) United Airlines announced that it will add 10 Embraer E175 aircraft to the United Express fleet, offering more customers greater comfort and convenience during their in-flight experience. Additionally, United expects that the airline or one of the carriers that operate as United Express will convert 18 more E175 aircraft to firm orders in the near term.

United anticipates deliveries of the aircraft will begin next year and continue through the summer of 2017. The new aircraft will replace older, less-efficient 50-seat regional jets and are in addition to the 125 E175s whose deliveries began in 2014.

Separately, Embraer S.A. announced an agreement with United Airlines to add additional E175 jets to the United Express fleet. The agreement consists of ten firm orders, which will be included in Embraer's 2015 second-quarter backlog. Additionally, Embraer expects that United or one of the carriers that operates as United Express will convert options for 18 aircraft to firm orders in the near term. The ten firm orders have an estimated value of $444 million based on current list price.

Delivery of the first of these aircraft is expected in 2016. The E175s are configured in a dual class 76-seat layout and will operate under the United Express brand. The carrier's 76-seat jet fleet will be comprised exclusively of E175s. This latest acquisition is in addition to a previous order from United Airlines for 30 E175s in April 2013.