Embraer 175 - Regional aircraft
In July 2005, Air Canada took delivery of their first aircraft manufactured by Embraer of Brazil. The E175 was more comfortable than the Canadair Regional Jets acquired a decade earlier. The plan was for it to both replace the RJ and continue to open up new short range, particularly trans-border, routes from the Toronto hub.
Because it was not rated to fly across the Rockies on one engine, we never saw the E175 aircraft on the west coast; this was not the case with the larger E190's (now retired).
As I recall, I did fly twice on the E175, luckily in J class, from Toronto to Washington D.C return. I was with a group of EAP representatives travelling to the IAMAW Winpisinger Education Centre in Maryland.
Interestingly, I remember very distinctly the aircraft banking sharply immediately after takeoff from Reagan National, presumably to avoid restricted air space around the U.S. capital. It was a beautiful clear day as we flew directly north over Lake Ontario and got a great view of the CN Tower.
Air Canada would take delivery of 15 E175's (Fins 371 to 385) between July 2005 and January 2006. All were leased to Sky Regional Airlines beginning in June 2013. The registrations were unchanged but the fin numbers were changed to 521 to 535 to avoid conflict with the Dash 8-300 fleet. Another 10 aircraft (Fins 536 to 545) were acquired later.
In 2021, Air Canada moved to consolidate its regional airlines. Sky Regional Airlines was closed and all 25 of the E175's were moved to Jazz Aviation and continue to operate as 'Air Canada Express'.
Below is a link to videographer Alex Praglowski's trip report on his flight from Montreal to Toronto earlier this year.
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