Air Transport

Northwest Airlines is to order Embraer 175 twinjets for its planned feeder unit Compass Airlines, according to a source close to the deal.

The US major in March revealed it was in talks with Bombardier and Embraer for a fleet of 36 aircraft, with both a 76-seat two-class CRJ900 or 75-seat two-class E-175 under consideration.

That plan said an order would be placed in April, with deliveries starting in March 2007. However last week Northwest said it has no specific date for Compass’ inauguration.

Neither Embraer nor Northwest will comment on the forthcoming order.

The source could offer no further details.

Compass, which was granted a tentative air operator’s certificate by the US DOT on September 11, will initially be used to replace capacity lost under Northwest’s revision of its contract with Mesaba Aviation, Northwest said in its March regulatory filing.

This will be the second E-175 order by a US carrier following Republic Airlines, which in July placed an order for 30 of the type. Republic’s deliveries are scheduled to begin next year.

Embraer yesterday revealed that the US FAA on August 31 granted type certification to the E-175, a move required before the Brazilian manufacturer can start delivering the aircraft to US carriers.