American Airlines Group has placed a firm order for 90 Embraer 175 jetliners, with purchase rights for an additional 43 of the aircraft. The jets are to be configured in a dual-class, 76-passenger seating layout. The newly-ordered 175s will be operated by American’s wholly owned regional airline subsidiaries under the American Eagle brand.
The order represents American Airlines’ largest-ever single order of Embraer 175s. American is a long-time customer for the 175, having ordered more than 200 175s to date, of which over 100 have so far been delivered. As of the end of 2023, a total of 210 175s were in active service throughout the Embraer network, including aircraft owned or leased by American as well as aircraft operated by third-party regional carriers under capacity purchase agreements.
American intends to retire all of its 50-seat single-class regional jets by the end of the current decade, and plans to continue serving small- and medium-size markets with larger-capacity regional jets.
The continuing sales success of the Embraer 175 in the U.S. market is due to the existence of scope clauses in pilot contracts at the three U.S. major airlines (American, Delta, and United). The scope clauses prohibit the regional partners of the major carriers from operating any aircraft that has a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 86,000 pounds or (with one grandfathered exception at American) that seats more than 76 passengers. As the 175 is compliant with these parameters, it has remained popular with U.S. customers.
Raymond Jaworowski currently co-authors three of Forecast International's best-selling products: Civil Aircraft Forecast, Military Aircraft Forecast, and Rotorcraft Forecast. As a contributor to Aviation Week & Space Technology's Aerospace Source Book, he has authored Aircraft Outlooks, and provided input for the publication's Aircraft Specifications tables. Raymond has represented Forecast International at numerous conferences and trade shows, often as a featured speaker. He is a member of the American Helicopter Society.
