Aircraft

British Airways CityFlyer says speed was a factor in the selection of the Embraer E-Jet over the Bombardier Q400 as it would have needed to order an additional aircraft if it had opted for the slower-cruising turboprop. The airline has ordered six Embraer 170s and five E-190SRs, with deliveries due to begin in September.

"Apart from the passenger comfort and the economics of the E-Jet, our analysis showed that we would have required 12 Q400s should we have gone for that option," says CityFlyer managing director Peter Simpson. "This is because of the operating speed differential between the Q400s and the E-Jet, and it was a factor in the decision process."

Simpson told Flight's Commercial Aviation Online that it will introduce the E-170 first and have five of the type by the end of 2009, with deliveries complete in February 2010.

E-190 deliveries will begin in March 2010 and the five aircraft will be delivered by June 2010.

The twinjets will be operated from London City airport, replacing its fleet of 10 BAE Systems Avro RJ100s and two RJ85s. Although the E-190 is not yet certificated to perform the steep approach into the airport, Embraer is expecting this will be secured by the end of the year.

© Embraer