Flybe announces expansion plan into Western Europe

European airline Flybe has announced a $1.3bn (£850m) order for 35 planes as part of its growth plans.

The Exeter-based airline said that the Embraer 175 jets would "underpin" its expansion into Western Europe.

The first of the 88-seater planes is scheduled to be delivered in September 2011 with the order set to be completed by March 2017.

Flybe's chief executive Jim French, told BBC Breakfast "we're a good value airline and we won't be changing our business model".