BA CityFlyer Takes First E170

Embraer delivered British Airways’ first 76-seat Embraer E170 on September 3, marking the start of a schedule that calls for delivery at a rate of roughly one airplane a month. Assigned to its CityFlyer regional subsidiary, BA’s orders encompass six E170s and five 98-seat E190s, the first of which it plans to take “early next year.” BA planned to launch E170 operations on September 28 from London City Airport to Edinburgh, Scotland. The E170 gained approval in May 2007 to fly the requisite 5.5-degree steep approaches into LCY. Embraer expects to gain EASA clearance for the E190 by year-end. –Gregory Polek