American Airlines (AA, Dallas/Fort Worth) has selected Mesa Airlines (YV, Phoenix Sky Harbor) to operate seven new CRJ900 NextGen aircraft for a 10-year term under the American Eagle brand.

Earlier this month, the Texan-based operator announced it had reached an agreement in principle with Bombardier Aerospace (BBA, Montréal Trudeau) to acquire the jets with options for an undisclosed number of additional airframes of the same type.

The 76-seat jets feature a two-class configuration with 12 First Class, 36 Main Cabin Extra and 28 Main Cabin seats. Deliveries are slated to begin in July, with all aircraft received by September 2015.

American has meanwhile said it is considering additional 100-seater aircraft to operate alongside the twenty EMB-190s it currently has in service with US Airways (Phoenix Sky Harbor). Among the options being considered include the E190-E2 as well as the A220-100. US legacy carriers are reportedly eager to replicate the success Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) has had with its cost-effective fleet of eighty-eight 110-seater B717-200s.