Aircraft

Midwest Air Group has cancelled its near five-year-old firm order for 20 Embraer ERJ-140s, but says it is evaluating options to expand its mainline and regional airline subsidiaries, and is not ruling out larger-sized regional jets

The termination eliminates the last ERJ-140 order from Embraer’s books.

The parent to Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based mainline operator Midwest Airlines and regional Midwest Connect in August 2001 signed a deal for 20 firm ERJ-140s as well as 20 options to re-equip Midwest Connect (then known as Skyway Airlines).

But in the years following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington DC, Midwest deferred deliveries of the Embraer regional jets several times.

After evaluating Midwest’s future fleet requirements, and determining that the ERJ-140 “didn’t fit into our business plan”, the carrier’s management in January this year “negotiated the terms of the [order] termination with Embraer”, says Midwest.

The carrier adds: “We are receiving [delivery of] our last Boeing 717 in May, and then we’re in the analysis phase of what the next growth will be in terms of additional aircraft,” for both Midwest Airlines and Midwest Connect.

MARY KIRBY / PHILADELPHIA