Flybe is terminating an order for 20 Embraer E175 88-seat regional jets and is to lease 24 smaller turboprop aircraft instead.
The regional carrier has taken delivery of 11 of a $1.3 billion order 35 175s with deliveries originally scheduled to complete by March 2017.
Deliveries of the remaining 24 were rescheduled last year to a four-year period from October 2015.
Flybe agreed today to terminate 20 E175s from the order and will instead sub-lease 24 71-seat Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft, with deliveries from March 2015 and spread over a two years.
Embraer has agreed to defer delivery of Flybe’s firm order of four remaining E175s until 2018.
The fleet re-shaping is in line with Flybe’s strategy announced after a strategic review last year of flying ‘thin’ regional routes, not served by mainstream airlines with larger aircraft and seat capacity.
The Q400 aircraft being sub-leased by Flybe from US carrier Republic Airways have an average age of 5.4 years.
The delivery schedule fits Flybe’s fleet replacement and growth profile as 21 Q400s from the existing fleet come to the end of their lease periods over the next four years, the airline said.
This intake of Q400s from Republic will make Flybe the largest Bombardier Q400 operator in the world.
Flybe CEO Saad Hammad said: “We are committed to flying the right aircraft on the right routes. The agreements between Flybe, Republic Airways and Embraer bring more than just an ability to keep to that commitment.
“With the substitution of 20 E175 future deliveries by young and attractively priced Bombardier Q400s, our core UK branded fleet is now right sized to our capacity growth and aircraft renewal plans at a net cost broadly in line with our expectations.
“Flybe continues to value its close partnership with Embraer. Our current fleet of E175s are popular and reliable aircraft and will remain a valued part of our fleet, providing efficient and cost effective services on our longer sectors.”
He added: “Let us be clear, there is more to do. But these landmark agreements are a significant step towards resolving all our legacy fleet issues and enable us to implement our strategy of connecting regions more effectively.”