U.S. regional carrier CommuteAir has strengthened the reliability of its charter-focused Embraer 170 by enrolling in Embraer’s Exchange Plus Program. This partnership allows CommuteAir to benefit from customized inventory management and repair services backed by Embraer’s global supply chain.
While CommuteAir primarily operates as a United Express partner with a fleet of 57 Embraer ERJ145 aircraft, completing over 200 daily flights for United Airlines, it also offers charter services under its own brand using a 76-seat Embraer E170. The airline, headquartered near Cleveland, manages hubs at Houston Intercontinental and Washington Dulles, along with maintenance hangars in Houston, Albany (N.Y.), and Lincoln (Nebraska).
“CommuteAir is excited to expand its collaboration with Embraer, extending our existing partnership for ERJ145 aircraft to now include parts inventory and repair support for our E-Jet operations,” said Lon Ziegler, Vice President of Technical Operations at CommuteAir. “This partnership will ensure a steady supply of parts to support our charter operations with the E170.”
Carlos Naufel, CEO of Embraer Services & Support, stated, “We are thrilled to partner with CommuteAir and provide the Exchange Plus Program for its E-Jet operations. Our long-standing relationship enables us to deliver top-tier support, ensuring efficiency and reliability for their fleet.”
The Exchange Plus Program is designed to deliver cost-effective, efficient management of repairable components, offering tailored inventory solutions and comprehensive repair services. This minimizes operational downtime and associated costs. CommuteAir and Embraer already collaborate on rotable and expendable parts support for the ERJ145 fleet through the Pool and Inventory Planning programs.