The US-based regional carrier announced a multi-year capacity purchase contract with Delta Air Lines that will effectively see SkyWest (SKYW) add 16 new Embraer E175s to its fleet.
In a press statement released by SkyWest (SKYW), this new fleet of E175s will be wholly-owned and financed by the operator and will replace 16 SkyWest CRJ900s currently flying under a previous Delta Air Lines contract.
According to the operator, delivery of the first E175 ordered is expected in the second quarter of 2022 and flight operations are expected to commence in the first half of 2022.
“We are pleased to continue to strengthen our Delta agreement with these new, dual-class aircraft,” said Chip Childs, President and CEO of SkyWest (SKYW). “The E175 continues to serve our partners and passengers well as we help our partners work toward full domestic recovery.”
News of the aircraft purchase follows another aircraft purchase announcement made in May 2021. In a press statement, SkyWest (SKYW) announced that it would purchase and operate eight E175 aircraft under a 12-year capacity purchase agreement with Alaska Airlines.
As of March 2021, SkyWest’s (SKYW) Embraer fleet consists of 193 Embraer E175s. The announcement of the aircraft purchase agreements with Delta Airlines (DAL) and Alaska Airlines will catapult the carrier’s fleet to 217 E175s, fortifying its position as the largest operator of Embraer E175 aircraft in the world.
Additionally, SkyWest (SKYW) recorded successful 2021 first quarter earnings, with a first quarter revenue of $535 million and total operating expenses of $454 million.
SkyWest’s (SKYW) operational model, which differs from the traditional model, is based on overhead costs from fixed-fee contracts on flights it operates for other US carriers such as American Airlines (A1G) (AAL), Alaska Air (ALK), Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.
