Republic Airways has received the first E175 from an order for 47 that it placed in May of this year.  The 76-seat E-Jet is flying in the colors of American Eagle under an operating agreement with the Indianapolis-based regional carrier.  The order from Republic also includes options for an additional 47 E175s.  If all options are exercised, the total value of the transaction is approximately USD4 billion at aircraft list price.

The E175s are operated by Republic Airlines, a Republic Airways Holdings subsidiary, under a 12-year capacity purchase contract with American Airlines and deployed across the American Eagle network.  American selected the E175 to offer capacity between its smaller 65-seat CRJ700s and larger 140-seat single-aisle jets.

Because the E175 has no over wing exits that can restrict seat placement, airlines have more flexibility in configuring the aircraft cabin.  The new American Eagle airplanes are configured with 12 First Class seats at 37 inch pitch, five rows of 20 seats at 34 inch pitch in Main Cabin Extra (the airline’s premium-seating zone), and 11 rows of 44 seats at 30 inch pitch in the Main Cabin.  This is similar to the three-class product that United Express introduced on its E170s when it took delivery of its first E-Jet in 2004.

The E175 was officially handed off to members of the Republic Airways delivery team on July 15 in Hangar F300 at Embraer’s assembly facility in São José dos Campos.​

Toasting the first delivery are (L-R): Melvin Paniagua, Pilot; Jefferey (Mac) McCracken, Quality Assurance Inspector; Girard (Jay) Morosetti, Quality Assurance Inspector; Alessandro Ricci, Pilot.

Aircraft are planned to be delivered at the rate of three per month.  The first E175s are planned to start flying on August 1 between Chicago O’Hare Airport and Albuquerque, New Orleans and Pittsburgh.  By the end of August, the E175s will also fly between ORD and Kansas City, Minneapolis, Toronto and Washington National.  Starting this October, the E175s are scheduled to serve Houston Intercontinental, Newark, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City and San Antonio.

Republic Airways has the largest fleet of E-Jets in the world and was the first US carrier to fly the aircraft.   It acquired E170s in 2004 and still operates those aircraft on behalf of United Express.  With this new order, the Republic Airways E-Jet fleet will grow to 179 airplanes:

If all 47 options are confirmed, the total fleet will increase to 226 E-Jets.

Republic Airways is also a long-time customer of the ERJ 145 regional jet family with 70 flying on contracts with several US carriers making Republic the operator of the largest fleet of Embraer commercial jets in the world.

The E175’s 2,000 nm (3,706 km) range, short field performance and superior hot and high capability make the airplane ideal for the North American network.