Piedmont Airlines Resurrects Former Envoy E145s to Expand Fleet

Piedmont Airlines (PT) is set to bring two former Envoy Air (MQ) Embraer E145s out of deep storage each month until January 2025, aiming to expand its fleet and support increased demand within the American Airlines network.

These E145s, previously mothballed by Envoy Air in 2023 after it switched to a fleet of larger E170s and E175s, have been transferred to Piedmont. Currently, Piedmont operates a fleet of 110 EMB-145LRs, with 53 in storage at Marana. The airline plans to boost its active fleet to 70 aircraft by February 2025, according to Bill Arndt, Vice President for Maintenance and Engineering.

“Reintroducing these aircraft is a significant step,” Arndt noted. “Each plane will undergo a heavy check and conformity process before rejoining the fleet.”

The expansion will also require Piedmont to hire 42 additional maintenance technicians, as approximately 30% of its fleet requires nightly maintenance.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com