FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Envoy Air Bids Farewell to Ageing ERJ-145 Jets, Embraces Larger Regional Aircraft.
American Airlines' regional subsidiary, Envoy Air, is retiring its remaining fleet of 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 jets, which have served the company for nearly two decades. The Texas-based carrier announced on May 26 that it would bid a fond farewell to the ERJ-145s, acknowledging their long-standing service to Envoy.
Envoy currently operates nine ERJ-145s, a significant decrease from the previous count of 22 in mid-March. The older jets will be phased out of service by next week.This retirement decision aligns with the industry-wide trend towards larger regional jets. In March, Envoy revealed that American Airlines had assigned an additional six E175s to the carrier.
Dee Temples, Envoy's senior vice president of air operations, expressed confidence in the transition from ERJ-145s to larger regional jets. Temples stated, "As we shift our focus to our extensive regional jet operation, American Airlines continues to invest in and trust Envoy's ability to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective service to our customers. We have made significant investments in resources and infrastructure to support our Embraer E-Jet fleet."
Envoy views the retirement of the ERJ-145s as an opportunity to strengthen and streamline its operations, emphasizing its role as a vital component of the American Eagle network. The regional airline added, "These aircraft will enable Envoy to become a more efficient company, allowing us to concentrate on a single fleet type."
Envoy operates as one of three regional carriers under the American Eagle brand, alongside Piedmont Airlines in Maryland and PSA Airlines in Ohio. Currently, the company has 104 E175s and 16 E170s in active service, with 31 ERJ-145s in storage.
