Jet To Buy 10 Erj-175 Aircraft

Jet Airways had ordered 10 Embraer (ERJ-175) aircraft with option for an additional 10 units. The current order amounts to $ 260 million . If the options for 10 additional units are converted then the order will reach $520 million.

The delivery of the aircraft is expected to begin by the third quarter of 2004 and will continue in phases throughout 2007. The announcement of the purchase of the planes was made at the Farnborough Air Show.

Last week Jet Airways had bought four Boeings. These Boeings were part of the leased fleet of Jet Airways. The company made an investment of Rs 4,820,000,00 for this purchase with GE Capital Services being the sole financier. Out of the 30 Boeings that Jet Airways has, 16 are now owned by the company, with four more Boeings to be inducted into the fleet soon.

The carrier also has eight ATR 72-500 turbo prop planes which are on lease. The ERJ-175 aircraft are going to replace the ATRs. The ATRs were plying on the feeder routes and were not viable because of low yields. The ATRs are likely to be phased out slowly since the lease of the last of the ATRs is valid till 2007.

Jet Airways operates 245 flights per day and connects 41 destinations in the country.

Since its inception on May 5 1993 the airline has carried a total of 31.5 million passengers.