ExpressJet reaches deal to slow jet deliveries = = = = Wednesday February 12, 5:10 PM EST = CHICAGO, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Regional air carrier ExpressJet Airlines (XJT= ) said on Wednesday it has reached a tentative agreement with Continental= Airlines (CAL) and Embraer (EMBR3) to slow the pace of regional jet deli= veries. The revised plan, which reschedules delivery of 60 of ExpressJet's remain= ing 78 firm orders from Embraer, is expected to hurt ExpressJet's 2003 ea= rnings per share by 2 cents to 4 cents, the company said. ExpressJet said= it now expects 2004 earnings per share to be off by 16 cents to 18 cents= versus estimates under its previous fleet plan. Under the new terms, ExpressJet will reduce its scheduled deliveries of E= mbraer ERJ-145XR regional jets in 2003 to 36 from its original plan for 4= 8 deliveries. It will also take 21 aircraft deliveries in 2004, down from= 36. The amended delivery schedule increases ExpressJet's aircraft deliveries = to 21 in 2005, up from two, and pushes eight aircraft deliveries to 2006.= ExpressJet said Continental proposed changes to the agreements as the air= line struggles to deal with more industry capacity than demand. In exchan= ge for the deferred deliveries, Continental extended ExpressJet's guarant= ee as the exclusive provider of regional jet service in its hubs by one y= ear, to Jan. 1, 2007. = =A92003 Reuters Limited. = Roger EWROPS