Hainan halves ERJ-145 order under new agreement

By Mary Kirby

Embraer's Chinese joint venture Harbin Embraer has reached an agreement with Hainan Airlines to halve the carrier's original 50-strong ERJ-145 order and stretch out remaining deliveries.

Under the new arrangement, which has been under negotiation for months, a total 25 ERJ-145s will be delivered to Hainan subsidiary Grand China Express.

Grand China has already taken delivery of 12 ERJ-145s. Delivery of the remaining 13 aircraft has been rescheduled for completion by the first half of 2011 instead of the originally-contemplated plan of year-end 2010.

In early April Embraer warned that the Hainan backlog would be reduced to 10-15 aircraft.