By Zach Cooke
Envoy Air Retires The Embraer 145
This past Wednesday, Envoy Air — a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines — retired its last Embraer 145 from their fleet. The final revenue flight for the carrier’s E145 landed at Chicago’s O’Hare airport at 6:01 p.m. local time from Wausau, Wis. according to Flightradar24.com.
The flight was operated by N933JN which was ferried to Abilene, Texas on June 1. At the time of writing, two of Envoy’s E145s were being ferried to Abilene, presumably for storage. Most of the carrier’s E145s will find a new life, remaining under the American Eagle umbrella to be operated by Piedmont Airlines.
Since beginning revenue service with now-defunct ExpressJet in 1997, the Embraer 145 aircraft has seen service across many global markets with production continuing until 2020. According to Airfleets.net, Envoy operated 200 of the type, since the carrier transitioned to the new name from the original American Eagle Airlines in 2014.
However, higher operating costs for carriers and a customer experience that couldn’t match its newer sibling and other turbine aircraft have partially contributed to the retirement of the type from Envoy’s fleet. The Embraer 170/175 will become the only type operated by Envoy. The larger regional jet was introduced into the Envoy fleet in 2014 and boasts a larger cabin with first-class seating along with wifi.
Something in this picture doesn’t belong. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Greg Linton)
American Airlines still believes in the effectiveness of the 50-seat aircraft, as the major carrier has transferred the majority of the E145s, Envoy has operated to Piedmont Airlines — also a wholly-owned subsidiary of American.
The move simplifies Envoy’s fleet, allowing the regional carrier to operate a single fleet type, the relatively newer E170/175. The move benefits Piedmont as well as the Salisbury, Md.-based carrier only operates the E145 in its fleet. So although the E145 has been retired from Envoy’s fleet, aviation enthusiasts can still fly on the aircraft under the American brand on routes operated by Piedmont around the East Coast.
While the retirement of Envoy’s E145s means one less United States carrier operating the type, the aircraft is still operated consistently in the States. According to Airfleets.net, CommuteAir is the largest operator flying 59 E145s and the smaller Embraer 135s on behalf of United Airlines throughout the country.
Piedmont is the second largest operator closely following CommuteAir operating 56. JetSuiteX follows the two regional carriers operating 39 E145s and E135s. Contour Aviation also operates the two variants around the country with 16 in their fleet.
The type is also operated by Denver Air Connection which has four airframes operating. There are also a plethora of private operators and militaries flying the aircraft type across the globe, continuing the legacy of the regional jet.
A Contour Embraer E135 nicknamed “Pride of Contour” (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
