Air Canada confirms 90 aircraft order, E190, CRJs

The big order is out, Air Canada has announced its fleet plans for the regional fleet.

The Bombardier order consists of 15 firm 50-seat CRJ-200 and 30 firm 74- seat CRJ-705 aircraft. Aircraft deliveries are scheduled to begin in September 2004. The order also contemplates the potential for Air Canada to exercise options to acquire 45 additional aircraft.

The Embraer order consists of 45 firm 93-seat Embraer 190 aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in November 2005. The order also contemplates the potential for Air Canada to exercise options to acquire 45 additional aircraft.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2003/19/c4710.html

This leaves 2 big questions:
1) Will star alliance follow with a similar order.
2) If the answer to #1 is yes, will this mean the B717 is history?