Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, placed an order for 30 new Embraer E175 with the option for another 33.
The order, valued at $ 2.8 billion, including the option, is the largest aircraft purchase ever made by Horizon, which currently operates a fleet of Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft. The regional airline said it will operate the E175 exclusively under the Alaska Airlines brand. Deliveries will begin in 2017 and continue until 2019.
The move to regional jets by Alaska Air Group, also the parent company of Alaska Airlines, comes a week after the company announced an agreement to acquire Virgin America for $ 2.6 billion, plus the assumption of $ 1 , 4 billion debt and leasing.
" The E175 Embraer will make longer flights. - Distant destinations to operate with a turboprop " Horizon said in a statement.
Horizon also said it will retire 15 of its 52 Q400 in 2018, when leases expire for 15 turoprops."Horizon Air will fly both the E175 and the Q400 for the foreseeable future" .
Horizon will configure the E175 with 12 seats in First Class, 16 in Premium Economy and 48 in the standard economic.
