Passaredo Linhas Aéreas to Operate Two ERJ 145 Jets in Brazil

SO JOS DOS CAMPOS, Brazil --- Embraer signed a contract with Passaredo Linhas Areas for leasing two previously owned 50-seat ERJ 145 jets. The announcement was made, today, at the airlines headquarters, in Ribeiro Preto, in outstate So Paulo, and is part of the Brazilian airlines expansion plans.>> It is truly a pleasure to see the ERJ 145 jet, which is now used by 28 operators in 16 countries, flying, once again, in Brazil, and with an enterprising company that enjoys such prestige, as does Passaredo, stated Alex Glock, Embraer Vice President, Marketing and Sales Latin America, Airline Market. We have an excellent relationship with Passaredo, that has operated EMB 120 Brasilia aircraft ever since its founding, and we intend to carry on this partnership for many more years.>> Passaredo currently operates six EMB 120 Brasilia aircraft and will use the ERJ 145 jets to strengthen its presence in Brazils regional markets. The delivery of the first airplane is expected for the first half of 2009. The aircrafts range allows flights of up to 2,870 km with 50 passengers, which is sufficient to fly nonstop from So Paulo to Braslia, Porto Alegre, Recife, or Salvador.>> The choice of the ERJ 145 jet is part of Passaredos expansion plan, and is focused primarily on improving customer service, said Jos Luiz Felcio, President of the Passaredo Group. With the introduction of the ERJ 145 jet, we intend to complement the services offered to our passengers, by increasing frequencies and adding destinations.>> The 50-seat ERJ 145 is the first member of Embraers diversified family of regional jets, that also includes the ERJ 135 (37 seats) and the ERJ 140 (44 seats). Since it entered service, in 1996, the platform of the ERJ 145 family has accumulated more than 14 million flight hours, worldwide, with over 1,000 aircraft now in operation.