Brazil's Embraer signs deal to supply jets to Horizon Air

Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, recently signed a purchase order with Brazil-based airplane manufacturer Embraer for 30 E175 jet aircraft, a contract worth approximately $2.8 billion and includes options for an additional 33 jets.

"To be chosen by Horizon to expand their fleet with the E175 is a great honor for Embraer,” Embraer President and CEO of Commercial Aviation Paulo Cesar Silva said. “It recognizes the great economics that this aircraft offers. The Alaska Airlines brand is known for its high-standards of service, having received many awards for their superior customer service, which brings us even greater responsibility to deliver a state-of-the-art product, with the best cabin for passengers in the 76-seat jet segment."

Embraer will begin to deliver the planes, which will be used by Alaska Airlines, during the second quarter of 2017. 

"The E175s position Horizon for growth beyond our current West Coast destinations while providing better customer utility in the growing Alaska Airlines network," Horizon Air President David Campbell said. "The spacious E175 offers a passenger experience that's on par with much larger jets. This aircraft opens up tremendous new opportunities to fly to new places that would not have been feasible with our existing aircraft."

The contract pushes Embraer’s North American unit sales of E175s to over 300 since January 2013.