Embraer Delivers 500th E-Jet to France's Regional

EMBRAER 170 jet will be operated by the Air France subsidiary

(Sao Jose dos Campos, December 13, 2008) -- Embraer achieves a significant milestone, today, with the delivery of its 500th E-Jet - an EMBRAER 170 - to France's Regional - Compagnie Aerienne Europeenne. The handover ceremony takes place at the Company's Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, headquarters, merely six months after the 400th E-Jet was delivered, in June 2008. Regional, a wholly owned Air France subsidiary, accepted its first EMBRAER 170, just three months earlier, in September 2008.

"The delivery of the 500th E-Jet is a great achievement for Embraer and we are especially proud that it is destined for our good and loyal friends at Regional," said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President and CEO. "This important milestone takes place just four years after the EMBRAER 170 entered service, underlining the outstanding worldwide reception this innovative aircraft family has received from 52 customers in 35 countries on five continents."

Regional's EMBRAER 170 is configured with 76 seats, in a single-class layout. The French airline is Embraer's largest customer in Europe, and currently has 50 Embraer aircraft (six EMBRAER 190s, two EMBRAER 170s, 28 ERJ 145s, nine ERJ 135s, and five EMB 120 Brasilias) in its fleet.

"It's a special honor for Regional to take part in this celebration with our friends from Embraer in Sao Jose dos Campos," said Jean-Yves Grosse, Regional / Air France President and CEO. "The E-Jets continue to receive great acceptance from our customers for their large and comfortable cabin, and we gain great efficiency by operating both the EMBRAER 190 and the EMBRAER 170, which gives us greater flexibility in a changing market."

Source : Embraer - click here for more information