Skyway and Embraer officials have declined to discuss exact financing terms for the planes. Air Wisconsin will begin to take delivery of its 50-seat Bombardier aircraft in October, with all 51 joining the fleet by December 2003. The carrier has until the end of the year to tell Bombardier whether it wants another 24 planes in 2004. In addition, it has options for another 75 planes to be delivered later. Crowley said Air Wisconsin is receiving a discount, although neither he nor Bombardier officials would disclose the size of the discount.
Regional jets are smaller than the jet planes that have filled the nation's skies for decades.
Typically, regional jets are used to connect smaller cities and feed larger jet flights. Skyway schedules its service to feed Midwest Express flights at Mitchell, where both have hubs. Air Wisconsin flies as United Express, feeding United Airlines flights in Denver and Chicago. In addition to the order, Crowley said the carrier recently reached an agreement with United to extend its contract as a feeder carrier to 2011. The new planes will be used to augment service in Chicago and Denver, Crowley said.