A new United Embraer 175. (Image: United)
The industry trend away from smaller regional jets to larger ones is continuing, as both United Airlines and Alaska Airlines this week announced plans to add more 76-seat aircraft — jets that are roomier, more comfortable and more passenger-friendly than predecessors like the CRJ.
United, which had already ordered 125 Embraer E175s that have been delivered starting last year, now says it is adding another 10 of the two-cabin, 76-seat planes to the United Express fleet. In addition, “United expects that the airline or one of the carriers that operate as United Express will convert 18 more E175 aircraft to firm orders in the near term,” the company said.
United’s E175s have 12 seats in first class and 64 in economy, including 16 Economy Plus extra-legroom seats. They come with power outlets in first class, wider seats and aisles than other regional aircraft, and bigger overhead bins, United said. Economy seating is configured 2 x 2. Overhead bins can actually accommodate most carryon bags and windows are nice and big. They will replace 50-seat regional jets in the United Express fleet.
United CRJ made by Bombardier getting replaced by roomier Embraers (Photo: RedLegsFan21 / Flickr)
United Express is in the process of adding Wi-Fi to its E175s, and this summer, “the airline plans to equip the E175s with personal device entertainment, offering customers complimentary movies and television shows to view on their Wi-Fi-enabled iOS and Android devices using United’s mobile app, as well as on laptop computers,” a spokesman said.
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Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines regional partner SkyWest said it is buying eight more two-class E175s that will fly under the Alaska banner starting next year. That’s in addition to seven previously ordered E175s that SkyWest will start operating next month for Alaska.
Those planes will go into service July 1 between Seattle-Milwaukee and Seattle-Oklahoma City, and between Portland-St. Louis. The new SkyWest E175s also have 76 seats — 12 in first and 64 in coach.
Have you flown on an Embraer jet? How do they compare to other aircraft? Please leave your comments below.
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The Embraer 170/175 is much better ride and passenger experience than any CRJ 200/700/900 offering. An actual overhead bin that is better than a domestic 767-300. Also much more seat space than a CRJ. I agree that given the size they are only good for a little over 2 hours. 3.5+ hours is too much.
All this does is now give United an excuse to use this plane from Dulles to California or any long trips. Guess I will have to wait to pass judgement on the plane.
Wait… how can these airlines be moving toward larger jets? Didn’t they get last week’s memo about being more “disciplined” in 2015?
Just flew my first ERJ last month; LOT ERJ 136 from Warsaw to Bucharest. Easily the most comfortable regional jet I’ve flown. Comfortable seats, good overhead bins, well thought-out. And that’s an early and small ERJ. Beat the CRJs I’ve flown all hollow.
I flew a US Airways Express from IND-BOS about five years ago. I think that was an E190. I was amazed how much roomier it felt than the CRJs. The overhead bins were full size, which were nice, as were the seat back pockets.
Yes, I’d much rather fly an E75 than any CRJ/CR7/CR9. They’re more comfortable than some mainline aircraft in many situations. That said, as another commenter indicated, none of these planes are good for turbulence. They’re also being used for routes that are simply too long. The airlines need to step up and operate their own flights on routes > 500 miles. With today’s high fares, the era of massive regional jet use needs to conclude.
This is a comparison that provides proof that all things are relative. Yes, I’d prefer an E-175 to a CRJ – they’re a little bigger, more modern and a bit more comfortable. That said, the E-175 is still quite small for some of the routes they’re put on (SEA-MKE is a fine example), they still bounce around more than a mainline jet and I would still go out of my way to fly on Southwest and get a 737 on any trip of more than 90 minutes.
Face it, the E-175 is small enough that there are no over wing emergency exits. Now, the E-190 is a little larger and better – but that’s not what is being bought in droves.
Just flew on a E-175 from SFO to YVR, the seats were the most uncomfortable with NO padding.
Embraer E-175/190 vs a CRJ 200/700/900 not even close. The Embraer is more comfortable, one is able to stand up in it, roomier, and just a overall better travel experience.