Embraer

Embraer (ERJ) sold one ERJ 170 to the Sirte Oil Company, the company's first customer in Libya. Delivery is scheduled for March 2007 and is already part of its order book, listed amongst its undisclosed customers. The aircraft is outfitted in a single-class 76-seat configuration.

Horizon Expands Service

Horizon begins service from Portland, Ore to Las Vegas and Oakland, Palm Springs and San Diego, Calif. on January 28, operating the new service through June 2, 2007. The new service will have Bombardier (BBD) CRJ-700s in a 70-seat configuration. The service includes two more roundtrips to Las Vegas, bringing the total to five; a sixth round trip to Oakland; a second daily flight to Palm Springs and a fourth San Diego flight. After June 2, Alaska will operate the San Diego and Las Vegas flights.

Mesa Counterclaim Dismissed

Hawaiian Airlines won a round in court in its battle against Mesa's go! operation, when a bankruptcy court dismissed Mesa's countersuit charging Hawaiian with violating antitrust laws. Hawaiian launched its suit last summer alleging Mesa used proprietary information to strengthen its launch of go!. A trial is set for next September. Hawaiian and Aloha are both suing Mesa in a pitched battle that is a repeat of previous regional airline attempts to launch inter-island service. (RAN, October 30, p.1)

Porter Adds Second Route

Porter Airlines began service to its second destination last week with its first flight between its base at Toronto City Center Airport and Montreal's Pierre Elliot Trudeau International airports. It offers four round trips daily but will more than double scheduled flights on the route to nine weekday roundtrips beginning January 8, after launching its fourth Bombardier Q400 into service. Porter indicated that 20 full-time jobs were created in Montreal, adding them to its roster of 200 employees. Porter began service on October 23 with 10 weekday round trips between Toronto and Ottawa.

Pratt & Whitney Invests $1.5 billion In R&D

In the largest such investment in its history, Pratt & Whitney-Canada will invest $1.5 billion in research and development over the next five years to create the next generation of engine technologies. The company will focus R&D efforts on developing new engine technologies that will surpass International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) most stringent standards for noise and emissions. "We have already achieved unmatched performance levels in these areas," said P&WC President Alain Bellemare. "We will also focus on reducing fuel consumption, developing advanced manufacturing technologies and enhancing competitiveness. In other words, we will create the new generation of high performance and greener engines."

The investment will generate over 1,500 direct and indirect jobs at facilities across Canada and among its suppliers. As part of the effort, the company will also invest $75 million in collaborative projects with 20 Canadian universities. The Canadian government is providing a royalty-based $350 million, reimbursable contribution to support the R&D work. P&WC already has 20 new engines in development.