Finnair orders 12 new Jets

Finnair is renewing its fleet by acquiring 76-seat Embraer 170 jet aircraft. Finnair Aircraft Finance Ltd and the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer have agreed on the firm order of 12 aircraft and options for eight.

Finnair President and CEO Keijo Suila explains, "We have renewed half of our fleet in five years. Our operational environment is changing and the most successful will be the one who reacts quickly to the new situation and is among the first to take advantage of it. We are continuing with our strategy by acquiring the best possible fleet for our feeder traffic."

The Embraer 170 aircraft will replace the MD-80 fleet and ATR-72 turboprop aircraft which are being retired.

"Shifting to a single aircraft type will bring significant savings in operating costs. At the same time fuel consumption will be cut by a third and air traffic charges will decrease. From the passenger's viewpoint, Embraer aircraft are comfortable and fast. Thus we can improve on our already high standard of service," Suila continues.

The Embraer aircraft will be used in domestic and European traffic on routes and frequencies where demand is better met by an aircraft smaller than the Airbus A320s in Finnair's fleet.

"Our efficiency will improve as our route network and services become more varied. The new aircraft will give us flexibility to serve our clients on more routes and outside peak hours as well," says Suila.

Embraer has been designing and manufacturing aircraft for both commercial and military use for over 30 years. The new generation Embraer 170/190 family aircraft are the first commercial aircraft to receive type certificates this century. The aircraft engines, manufactured by General Electric, are clean-running and have a low noise level.

The value of the firm order aircraft on the basis of the manufacturer's listed price is approximately 320 million US dollars. The aircraft now on order will be delivered to Finnair Group's Finnair Aircraft Finance Ltd between September 2005 and May 2007.

The aircraft are already in service with some European and American airlines. The number of seats for the family of aircraft varies between 70 and 108. Embraer has over 250 orders and a little under 350 options for this new aircraft type from airlines around the world. Finnair's orders and options can be converted to other versions within the aircraft family.