Bridges Air Cargo Becomes Launch Customer for Embraer E190F E-Freighter
The British cargo company will receive the world’s first E-Jet freighter through lessor Regional One, with deliveries scheduled for the third quarter.
Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer, together with lessor Regional One, has announced an agreement naming Bridges Air Cargo as the global launch operator for the freighter version of the E190. Known as the E-Freighter program, it involves converting passenger aircraft into freighters (P2F).
The deal, unveiled at the 2025 edition of the Paris Air Show, includes the delivery of two E190F aircraft, with the first unit expected to join the British company’s fleet in the third quarter of 2025.
Bridges Air Cargo, a subsidiary of the Bridges Worldwide group, provides logistics solutions to the global freight community. It partners with major players like FedEx, DHL, and UPS to support high-performance, time-critical network demands.
Guy Bridges, Managing Director of Bridges Air Cargo, stated: “It’s fitting that Bridges becomes the launch customer for the E-Freighter as we celebrate 35 years in operation and over one billion kilograms moved for the express market.” He added that the aircraft’s size “occupies a unique and underserved niche in the cargo segment, enhances our operational capabilities, and opens new and promising route opportunities.”
Embraer’s E-Freighter program was developed in response to shifting e-commerce and logistics demands, which increasingly call for faster deliveries and decentralized operations targeting secondary and tertiary markets. The conversion of E-Jets into freighters aims to fill the gap between large turboprops and bigger narrowbody freighters.
What to know about the E190F:
What is it? A passenger Embraer E190 converted for dedicated cargo operations (P2F).
Launch Customer: Bridges Air Cargo (UK).
Maximum Capacity: Structural payload of 13,500 kilograms.
Entry into Service: Expected in the third quarter of 2025.
Hank Gibson, President of Regional One, emphasized that this first E190 P2F "highlights Regional One’s commitment to innovation in the regional aviation market." He noted that, in partnership with Embraer and others, they are "setting a new standard for regional cargo transport."
Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, expressed enthusiasm for the announcement, which comes shortly after the aircraft secured triple certification from the FAA (U.S.), EASA (Europe), and ANAC (Brazil)—a key milestone for global market entry.
According to Embraer, converted E-Jets will offer over 40% more volume capacity and three times the range of large cargo turboprops. At the same time, they boast operating costs up to 30% lower than larger narrowbody freighters, making them a highly efficient option for medium-density routes.
AUTOR
Desde 2017, haciendo periodismo aeronáutico. Award-Winning Journalist: Ganador de la edición 2023 de "Periodismo de Altura", otorgado por ALTA. Facts don't care about your feelings.
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