A DEAL has been inked between Embraer and US-based holding company SkyWest Inc for 16 E175-E1s. The new aircraft, worth US$798.4m at list prices, will be flown by wholly owned subsidiary, SkyWest Airlines. In turn, the three-class, 76-seat jets will operate exclusively for Atlanta- based Delta Air Lines under a Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA). SkyWest already operates 71 E175s for the firm. President and CEO of SkyWest, Chip Childs, said: “SkyWest operates more E175s than any other carrier in the world. With these aircraft, we will have nearly 240 [examples] operating with airlines in North America. This month we are proud to reach two million flight hours in the E175.”