Republic Airlines reached a purchase agreement for 30 Embraer 175s, expanding its existing service contract with US Airways and making it the US launch customer for the 86-seat jet.The Regional currently operates 28 170s for US Airways. The 175s, which will be delivered in 2007 and 2008, will be operated under a 12-year capacity purchase contract that stipulates US will continue to supply fuel at no cost to its partner. Republic Airlines is a subsidiary of Republic Airways, the US launch customer for the 170 with 106 firm orders and 75 options for 170s/175s.

"We've been working on this for months," Republic VP Warren Wilkinson told ATWOnline. "We are very excited to expand our relationship with US Airways. It further strengthens our position in the industry." The transition to the new model will be eased by the fact that the 170 and 175 have the same type rating, according to Wilkinson.

Republic Airways Holdings also is the parent of Shuttle America and Chautauqua Airlines. The Indianapolis-based carriers operate a total of 166 aircraft including 71 170s. In addition to US Airways, the company has codeshare agreements with Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Connection and recently announced its fifth codeshare partner, Continental Airlines.

The 175s will replace 20 50-seat ERJ-145s currently operated for US Airways by Chautauqua Airlines. Those aircraft will be switched over to service for Continental, which finalized its capacity purchase agreement with Chautauqua last week (ATWOnline, July 24). The remaining 10 175s will either replace retiring aircraft or be used for future growth. Republic operates 1,000 flights per day to 89 cities in 35 states.