Flybe??

Yea as long as they are cheap and have good times as soon as they land at SOU i’ll ask me parents

Can’t wait to fly on one! I’ll be booking some BE flights when they get them into service. 😉

First base is Birmingham I understand

It all here mate of their website…

http://www.flybe.com/news/0506/06a.htm

Flybe Place US$ 950m Order With Embraer
Acquisition of 14 195s and options on a further 12 aircraft.

Flybe, one of the top five European low cost airlines, today confirmed a US $950million order to purchase up to 26 Embraer 195 aircraft (14 firm / 12 options). This contract value includes optional parts and customer support package. As a result Flybe will become the global launch customer for this member of the Embraer 170/195 family, and comes hard on the heels of Flybe’s 2004 announcement of the $1billion purchase of up to 61 Q400’s (41 firm / 20 options).

Flybe Embraer 195

The 118 seat Embraer 195 sets new standards in operating costs, environmental performance, and in flight cabin services. Flybe will take delivery of its first 195 in Autumn 2006. These planes will initially be deployed at Flybe’s major bases in Birmingham, Southampton, Belfast, Exeter, Jersey, Guernsey, Edinburgh and Glasgow. The delivery of these firm orders will mean that Flybe will have a total fleet size of between 59 (firm) and 91 (including options) aircraft by 2009.

Jim French Chairman and managing Director of Flybe commented: “The Embraer 195 is ideally suited to meet the needs of our domestic and regionally focused business model. The airplane has seat costs on the sector lengths we fly which are comparable with larger jets, while with 118 seats has a capacity level which suits the thinner UK regional markets we serve. In short, the Embraer 195 allows us to deliver our famous low fares to all the regions we serve, and allows us to do it profitably, while at the same time increasing the number of regions we can serve with direct European services.”

Mr French continued: “The 195 will replace our 146 BAe fleet, and bring cost and service efficiencies. It completes our fleet rationalisation strategy commenced in 2003 and will give us the youngest fleet in the airline sector. It also means that the business has addressed the strategic question of how to replace the 146 and provide a 10 year platform for profitable growth.”

“We chose the 195 not only for its operational and cost advantage but also for its outstanding environmental performance. Flybe has become a major player in European aviation and this deal will pave the way for the companies continued growth and financial success.”

The 195 first flew in November 2004, and it is the largest aircraft in the Embraer 170/195 family. It is a narrow bodied large aircraft ideally suited to stage lengths of between 600nm and 2000nm. The new aircraft gives exceptionally good passenger space and on-board baggage capacity, along with the latest in technology including fly-by-wire systems and weight reductions designed to improve economy.

“As one of Europe’s leading low cost airlines, Flybe honours us with its selection of the Embraer 195, the last member of the new family of Embraer airliners,” welcomed Mauricio Botelho, CEO of Embraer. “Flybe’s choice is yet another testimony of the capabilities and right-sizing factor of our family of aircraft. The Embraer 195 will bring unparalleled performance and comfort at an expected low operating cost. We are proud to be part of the carrier continued expansion within the low-cost market.”

I believe the first deliveries are mid part of this year and the first aircraft are going to be based at Birmingham.