Dominican Republic: Sky High retired the last Embraer ERJ 145 from its fleet

Sky High Aviation recently bid farewell to its last Embraer ERJ 145, completing a series of strategic decisions aimed at enhancing the airline’s operational capabilities. The Santo Domingo-based company has been phasing out its ERJ 145s to align with its ongoing fleet modernization and expansion efforts.

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The airline acquired three ERJ 145 aircraft in 2018, operating under the registrations HI 1024, HI 1052, and HI 1053. These planes had a single-class configuration with a capacity to carry 50 passengers. The model’s last commercial flight took place on September 30th, traveling from Antigua to Santo Domingo with the flight number DO 957.

In 2022, Sky High added five Embraer 190 aircraft to its fleet, and it plans to later introduce two Embraer 175s, previously operated by Flybe. Moreover, the airline also operates a Boeing 737-300 (SF) dedicated to cargo operations.

The Embraer 190 boasts a 97-passenger configuration, with 9 in business class and 88 in economy. The Embraer 175 will feature a single-class configuration of 88 seats.

Established in 2012 with a fleet of turboprop aircraft including the Jetstream 41 and several Beechcraft models, Sky High Aviation initially specialized in offering tourist flights from Punta Cana. Over the years, it has grown to become the largest airline in the Dominican Republic in terms of destination offerings.

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Currently, the airline operates flights to 14 destinations in the Caribbean, including Dutch and French Antilles, French Guiana, Venezuela, and the United States from Santo Domingo/Las Américas (SDQ), Santiago (STI), and Punta Cana (PUJ). It also provides charter services to Jamaica, Cuba, and Nicaragua.

Agreement with Embraer for the Pool Program

Embraer has announced an expansion of its contract with Sky High Aviation for the Pool Program. This ensures continued comprehensive support for a broad range of repairable components for their Embraer 190 and 175 aircraft. Notably, Embraer’s Pool Program supports over 60 airlines globally.

Juan Chamizo, CEO and Chairman of Sky High Aviation, expressed gratitude to the Embraer team for their continued support through the Pool Program. He stressed that this partnership maintains high operational safety standards and reduces response times in Grounded Aircraft (AOG) situations.

Carlos Naufel, CEO and Chairman of Embraer Services & Support, conveyed his enthusiasm about extending the Pool Program agreement with Sky High Aviation. He emphasized that the airline’s growing reliance on Embraer’s E-Jet family is a testament to their successful collaboration.

According to the manufacturer, the outcomes include significant savings in repair and inventory maintenance costs and a reduction in storage space and resources required for repair management.