The United States (US) regional airline provider SkyWest Airlines has secured an agreement with United Airlines to fly a further 20 Embraer E175 jets for the carrier.
On March 3, 2024, SkyWest confirmed that the 20 partner-financed Embraer E175s will be placed with United under a four-year contract.
“We’re delighted to continue enhancing our United partnership and pleased that we’re able to deliver on the strong market demand,” Chip Childs, President and CEO of SkyWest, said.
The agreement is in addition to a previously announced deal for 19 SkyWest-owned E175s to boost United’s operations.
In October 2023, SkyWest announced it had placed an order with Brazilian planemaker Embraer for the purchase of 19 E175 aircraft that will fly exclusively with United under a Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA).
Skywest paid $1.1 billion for the new 70-seater aircraft, which will arrive in a three-class configuration starting in the final months of 2024.
“I want to thank our people of SkyWest for your commitment to integrity, to teamwork, and to excellence. It's because of this collective commitment that there is no airline with a brighter future…” Chip Childs, SkyWest President & CEO #EmployeeAppreciationDay pic.twitter.com/UQ8z92GnMv
— SkyWest Airlines (@SkyWestAirlines) March 1, 2024
SkyWest plan to deliver 24 E195s to United in 2024 and one to Delta Air Lines, and then in 2025 United will receive an additional seven aircraft and Alaska Airlines will acquire one.
Finally, according to SkyWest, United will receive eight E195s in 2026.
As well as flying for United Express, SkyWest also operates through partnerships with Delta Air Lines as Delta Connection, American Airlines as American Eagle, and Alaska Airlines as Alaska SkyWest.
By the end of 2026, SkyWest is scheduled to operate a total of 278 E175 aircraft.