Embraer

Embraer (ERJ) delivered the first ERJ 190 to Ecuadorian operator TAME, which added it to its fleet of two Embraer 170s. The airline, which serves 14 destinations in Ecuador as well as to Cali, Colombia, also has options on four ERJ 170s or 190s.

The company opened new offices in Europe in a new building close to Charles de Gaulle Airport and a few miles north of Paris. The new facilities will consolidate the two locations previously housing its European offices, to serve operators located in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The 67,866 square-foot offices include a state-of-the-art, 37,458-square-foot warehouse.

Embraer validated "the intuitive design and functionality" of the Phenom 300 flight deck and avionics suite after meeting with its pilot and operator advisory board. The Prodigy's "Quiet & Dark" concept provides heightened situational awareness and clear pilot instructions for single-pilot operations. The design also facilitates a lighter workload for pilots. It includes Garmin's G1000 avionics suite, a maintenance computer, integrated standby instrument system (ISIS), system synoptics, high-altitude functions, dedicated flight management system controller and dedicated auto pilot controller.

Bombardier

New start-up airline, Aerolineas Mesoamericana (ALMA of Mexico) is leasing six 50-seat, Bombardier (BBD) CJR200 regional jets, for delivery set to begin this month. ALMA is the first Mexican airline to operate the aircraft. Two aircraft will be leased from Canadian Regional Aircraft Financial Transaction No. 1 Ltd (CRAFT) and four from General Electric Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS). Based in Guadalajara, the airline will serve domestic point-to-point routes within Mexico. It starts operation with eight aircraft in its first year and expects to grow to 35 aircraft by its fifth year. It anticipates carrying more than half a million passengers in its first year.

Bombardier Aerospace and Landmark Aviation opened its newly remodeled terminal and expanded ramp at Los Angeles International Airport, becoming the newest authorized service facility for the company's business jet division. The $2.6 million facility combines a flight center, including a pilot rest area, flight planning area and conference room with Landmark's maintenance, repair and overhaul services. It also expands the ramp area to 300,000 square feet, a 10 percent increase. The relationship adds the Learjet and Challenger 600 to the maintenance capabilities of Landmark, which has been providing maintenance for the global family of aircraft since 2000.

Midwest Airlines

Midwest Airlines (MEH) has increased nonstop service between Milwaukee (MKE) and popular Florida destinations. Milwaukee's home town airline will offer daily nonstop service to Ft Myers as well as to MKE-Ft Lauderdale, eliminating the current stop in Kansas City during the October 2006-April 30, 2007 season. The carrier also will add a second daily nonstop to the two markets as well as to Tampa, between November and April.