Japan Unleashes a Regional Travel Revolution as ANA Orders Eight Cutting Edge E190-E2 Jets to Transform IBEX Flights and End the CRJ700 Era

Written By: Soumava Chakrabarty

Soumava Chakrabarty

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July 30, 2026 8:27 AM

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Japan’s regional air travel network is set to be modernised after eight additional Embraer E190-E2 aircraft were ordered by ANA Holdings for services operated in partnership with IBEX Airlines. Through the planned fleet transition, ageing CRJ700 aircraft will be progressively replaced, while lower fuel consumption, reduced noise and more efficient capacity management will be introduced across selected Japan domestic flights.

The latest agreement has been shaped around more than an aircraft purchase. A new operational structure has also been prepared by All Nippon Airways and IBEX Airlines. Under this arrangement, ANA services will be marketed and planned by ANA, while designated flights will be operated by IBEX Airlines crews. A more sustainable regional network is expected to be supported when the partnership is launched during fiscal 2029.

Eight Additional E190-E2 Aircraft Have Been Ordered

Approval for the firm order was granted by the board of ANA Holdings on 29 July 2026. Eight Embraer E190-E2 regional jets will be added under the latest decision, with the aircraft being intended for the expansion of the planned ANA and IBEX Airlines operating partnership.

An earlier fleet decision was announced by ANA Holdings on 25 February 2025. At that stage, 20 E190-E2 aircraft were covered, including 15 firm orders and five options. Following the new commitment, 23 E190-E2 aircraft are now included in firm orders. The five options attached to the earlier agreement remain separate.

The new jets have been described by ANA Holdings as 100-seat-class aircraft. Modern engines and updated aviation technology will be incorporated, allowing lower fuel consumption, quieter operations and restrained operating costs to be pursued.

These qualities are particularly relevant to regional aviation. Passenger demand can vary substantially between routes, seasons and travel periods. When an aircraft is too large, seats can be left empty and costs can be increased. When capacity is too limited, access to regional destinations can be constrained. With the E190-E2, a more balanced response to those variations is expected to be provided.

A New Partnership Has Been Designed for Japan Domestic Flights

Under the planned structure, route planning, flight frequency decisions and ticket sales will be handled by ANA. The flights covered by the arrangement will be operated by IBEX Airlines crews. The E190-E2 will be used as a common aircraft type within the partnership.

Maintenance responsibilities will also be reorganised. Maintenance management for the common fleet will be entrusted by IBEX Airlines to ANA. By placing aircraft operations and maintenance within a coordinated system, resources are expected to be used more effectively.

However, the routes and frequencies to be included have not yet been confirmed. Those details will be discussed by the two airlines at a later stage. The arrangement will also remain subject to applications, regulatory approval and coordination with the relevant authorities. Its final form could therefore be adjusted before operations begin.

For travellers, no immediate timetable change has been announced. The order represents a medium-term fleet and network decision rather than an instant alteration to existing bookings.

IBEX Airlines CRJ700 Aircraft Will Be Progressively Replaced

The Embraer E190-E2 is expected to become the successor to the CRJ700 fleet operated by IBEX Airlines. Retirement of the CRJ700 aircraft is planned to begin from 2029, aligning the transition with the proposed launch of the new ANA flight operating business.

The change will mark an important fleet renewal for IBEX Airlines. Its regional services have long been associated with smaller jets designed to connect cities that cannot always support larger mainline aircraft. That underlying role will be preserved, but it will be supported by a newer aircraft platform.

A complete transition cannot be assumed to take place on a single date. Aircraft replacement is generally completed in phases so that crews can be trained, maintenance systems can be prepared and schedules can be protected. Existing aircraft can also be retained temporarily while new jets are introduced.

For this reason, passengers may encounter both aircraft types during the transition period. Specific deployment details will depend on the route plan eventually agreed by ANA and IBEX Airlines.

Regional Travel Could Be Protected More Effectively

The strongest travel implication can be found in the planned protection of regional connectivity. Japan’s domestic aviation market links major metropolitan gateways with smaller cities, provincial business centres and tourism destinations. These flights are often relied upon by residents, business travellers and visitors connecting from international services.

Regional air routes can become difficult to maintain when demand fluctuates or operating costs rise. A 100-seat-class aircraft can be used where a larger jet would provide excessive capacity, while still offering enough seats to sustain commercially important links.

Through the E190-E2, capacity is expected to be matched more closely with actual passenger demand. That flexibility could help ANA retain routes or frequencies that might otherwise be placed under greater financial pressure.

The initiative has also been aligned with the findings of a Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism expert report issued on 29 May 2026. In that report, the managed outsourcing of flight operations was identified as a potentially useful method for adapting capacity to changing demand while preserving the domestic aviation network.

The aircraft order and operating agreement can therefore be viewed as a direct response to a wider structural challenge. Regional access is being addressed through cooperation, common aircraft and shared resources rather than through fleet renewal alone.

Tourists Could Receive a More Comfortable Regional Journey

No final cabin specification for the ANA and IBEX Airlines aircraft has been disclosed. Even so, the E190-E2 platform has been designed around a wider regional-jet cabin and a two-by-two seating arrangement. A middle seat is therefore avoided across the standard passenger cabin.

The aircraft can be configured differently by individual operators, so the exact number of seats, seat pitch and onboard features will depend on decisions made by ANA Holdings and its operating partners. Until a final cabin plan is announced, particular amenities should not be presumed.

Nevertheless, the move from the CRJ700 to a 100-seat-class E190-E2 could create a noticeable change in the regional travel experience. A more spacious cabin environment can be provided, while overhead storage and boarding flow can be supported by the newer design.

Lower cabin and external noise levels are also expected to be enabled by the modern aircraft and its PW1900G engines. This could be particularly valuable at regional airports located close to communities or operating under noise-related restrictions.

For international visitors, the effect could be felt after arrival at large gateways. Domestic connections operated under ANA flight numbers may be used to reach cities beyond Tokyo, Osaka and other primary entry points. A newer regional aircraft could make that onward journey more comfortable and dependable.

Tourism Access Beyond Major Gateways Could Be Strengthened

Japan’s visitor economy is not limited to its largest cities. Regional food, heritage, landscapes, hot springs and seasonal attractions are increasingly being promoted to travellers seeking experiences beyond established urban routes.

Reliable domestic flights are essential where long surface journeys would otherwise be required. They can also allow several regions to be included in one itinerary. When appropriate aircraft capacity is available, less densely travelled routes can be served without the commercial burden created by larger jets.

The E190-E2 will not automatically produce new tourism routes. No destinations have yet been identified under the partnership. However, the aircraft will provide ANA and IBEX Airlines with greater flexibility when future regional schedules are assessed.

Services could be adjusted more closely to seasonal tourism flows, local demand and connecting traffic. During quieter periods, a right-sized regional jet could be used without the same capacity risk associated with a larger aircraft. During stronger periods, frequency could potentially be managed around the available fleet.

Such flexibility can be particularly important for destinations affected by pronounced seasonal demand. Snow tourism, festivals, autumn foliage, spring travel and summer holidays can all produce sharp changes in passenger numbers.

Fuel Efficiency Will Support a More Sustainable Network

Lower fuel consumption has been presented by ANA Holdings as one of the central reasons for selecting the E190-E2. New engines and updated aerodynamic technology have been incorporated into the aircraft, allowing operating efficiency to be improved compared with older regional jet designs.

Fuel savings are important for both financial and environmental reasons. Fuel remains a major airline expense, while aviation emissions are increasingly being examined by governments, businesses and travellers.

No route-specific emissions figures have been provided for the future ANA and IBEX Airlines services. Exact savings will depend on seating configuration, distance, payload and operational conditions. Broad environmental claims should therefore be treated cautiously until the aircraft enter service.

Even so, replacing older CRJ700 aircraft with modern E190-E2 jets is expected to reduce fuel use and noise on comparable operations. Lower operating costs could also improve the financial resilience of regional routes, helping connectivity to be retained during periods of weaker demand.

Travellers Should Watch for Further Announcements

The aircraft decision does not require passengers to change existing travel arrangements. The new operating business is being prepared for fiscal 2029, and the selected routes have not been published.

Future announcements will need to be checked for delivery schedules, cabin configuration, route deployment, flight frequencies and the pace of the CRJ700 retirement. Regulatory approval will also be required before the proposed structure can be fully implemented.

Tickets for covered services are expected to be sold by ANA, while operations will be carried out by IBEX Airlines crews. Passengers should therefore review the operating-carrier information displayed during booking once the arrangement begins.

The most significant outcome will be the creation of a common regional aircraft platform. Through that platform, fleet efficiency, maintenance coordination and route sustainability are intended to be strengthened without removing ANA’s central role in planning and selling the services.

The order has consequently been positioned as a long-term investment in Japan’s domestic travel infrastructure. By combining a modern regional jet with a revised operating partnership, access to communities beyond the largest gateways is expected to be protected more effectively.

[Source:- ch- aviation]