Régional Compagnie Aérienne Européenne

Infobox_Airline
airline=Régional
logo=Air France logo.svg
logo_size=250
fleet_size=64
destinations=49
IATA=YS
ICAO=RAE
callsign=REGIONAL EUROPE
parent=Air France-KLM
founded=2001
headquarters=Nantes, France
key_people=
hubs=Charles de Gaulle Airport
focus_cities=Aéroport de Bordeaux Mérignac
Saint-Exupéry Airport
Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne Airport
frequent_flyer=Flying Blue
lounge=Departures Lounge
alliance=SkyTeam
website= http://www.regional.fr/

Régional Compagnie Aérienne Européenne, or Régional for short, is a subsidiary airline wholly owned by Air France which connects hubs at Paris, Lyons, Clermont-Ferrand, and Bordeaux to 49 airports in Europe. The airline operates in a slightly modified Air France livery. Fact|date=February 2007 It became the first European operator of the Embraer 190 aircraft in November 2006 Airliner World January 2007] .

History

After being acquired by Air France, Régional was formed in April 2001 by the merger of Flandre Air, Proteus Airlines, and Regional Airlines.

Regional is upgrading and consolidating its fleet, considering allying with a turboprop partner as it increasingly turns its focus to its jet operations. Its two remaining Saab 2000s were phased out in 2006 and its nine Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias will later follow, marking the exit of all of Regional’s turboprop aircraft. [Air Transport Intelligence news, October 2006]

Fleet

The Régional fleet includes the following aircraft (at May 2008):

*6 Embraer E-190-100LR (100 passengers)
*1 Embraer 170-100LR (76 passengers)
*9 Embraer ERJ 135ER (37 passengers)
*13 Embraer ERJ 145EP (50 passengers)
*15 Embraer ERJ 145MP (50 passengers)
*6 Embraer EMB 120ER Brasilia (30 passengers)
*9 Fokker 100 (100 passengers)
*4 Fokker 70 (80 passengers)

On order:
* 6 Embraer 170-100LR (76 passengers)
* 5 Embraer 190-100LR (100 passengers)

Régional average fleet age is 9 years in August 2007 [ [http://www.airfrance.co.uk/GB/en/local/toutsurairfrance/filiale/compagnies_regional.htm?BV_SessionID=@@@@0293672200.1188504626@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdeaddljgmgeedcefecekedgfndgig.0 Home > About Air France > Subsidiaries > Airlines > Régional ] ] .

It became the first European operator of the Embraer 190 on 23 November 2006 when the first of six on order was delivered. The 100 seat aircraft will operate domestic and intra-European services in full Air France colours . Régional received its first Embraer 170 of 6 orders, which wears the new Régional logo, on September 2nd 2008.

The Embraer 190s are part of a new order over the Air France-KLM group with another 18 further options. 5 Fokker F70s will be transferred to KLM Cityhopper in the near future [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/08/03/215934/air-france-klm-jointly-orders-up-to-38-embraer-170190s.html Air France-KLM jointly orders up to 38 Embraer 170/190s ] ] .

External links

* [http://www.regional.fr/ Régional]
* [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=YS&al_op=1 Régional Fleet]

References