JAL takes delivery of first E-170 from Embraer

Embraer delivered its first E-170 jet to Japan Airlines (JAL) Friday. This is the first of a total of 10 firm orders for the Embraer 170 placed by JAL with the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer.

It has options for another five of the same model, which is configured to seat 76 passengers in a single-class layout. The E-170 will be operated by J-AIR, a regional operator which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JAL.

"It is a great pleasure to deliver the first Embraer 170 to a customer as distinguished as JAL, recognized worldwide for its operational excellence," said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer president and CEO. "As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Japanese immigration to Brazil, all of us at Embraer are deeply honoured to see our E-Jets flying in the skies of Japan and in the colours of Japan Airlines."

"Japan Airlines is delighted to be the first carrier in Japan to welcome the Embraer 170 jet into its fleet," said Haruka Nishimatsu, JAL Group president and CEO. "The aircraft features interior comfort and state-of-the-art equipment that will provide our passengers with an outstanding in-flight experience. This jet will enable the JAL Group to develop business operations on its domestic routes more efficiently, and take full advantage of the business opportunities that will arise from airport expansion in the Tokyo metropolitan area in 2010."

According to Embraer, by June of this year the E-series had logged 847 firm orders with 827 options from more than 50 customers in 30 countries, worldwide. It said there were over 430 aircraft in operation, which collectively had logged more than 2 million flight hours.

The JAL Group is Asia's largest airline, in terms of the number of passengers carried. The carrier operates alongside seven subsidiary airlines serving 216 airports in 34 countries and territories, including 60 airports in Japan.

Altogether, the eight airlines of the JAL Group operate up to 1,200 flights a day on domestic and international routes.

J-AIR is a Japanese regional airline based in Nagoya (Komaki) airport, and operates 60 flights a day on 15 routes serving Nagoya, Sapporo, Osaka (Itami), Fukuoka, and other major cities in Japan.