Inaugural Flight of Embraer Converted E190F Freight Jet Marks New Era in Cargo Transport

Saturday, April 6, 2024

São José dos Campos, Brazil, the inaugural flight of the first E190F took place, marking its transformation from a passenger transport to a freighter (E-Freighter). The Embraer team piloted the E-Freighter for approximately two hours, conducting a comprehensive assessment of the aircraft, which will undergo further testing before being deployed. This particular aircraft is under the ownership of Regional One, a leasing company based in the United States.

“The E-Freighter program opens a new business opportunity for Embraer, meeting e-commerce’s growing global demand for cargo transport and matching the high-tech E-Jets family to an unbeatable operational performance,” says Francisco Gomes Neto, President and CEO of Embraer. “We are very pleased with E190F’s and E195F’s fast progress during the testing period. These jets will be important tools for our customers and allow them to work with more agile and decentralized deliveries.”

This initial flight is just one aspect of comprehensive testing Embraer is conducting to ensure the E-Freighter jets are fully operational. The aircraft has already passed critical tests, including ground pressurization and cargo loading.

The conversion of E-Jets into freighters is set to offer a significant boost in cargo volume capacity—over 50% more than before, triple the range of large cargo turboprops, and up to 30% less in operating costs compared to narrowbody aircraft. The combined capacity of the underfloor and main deck enables a maximum structural payload of 13,500 kg for the E190F and 14,300 kg for the E195F.

Embarked in 2022, the E190F and E195F Passenger to Freight Conversions (P2F) project brought together a global network of over 40 suppliers and mobilized more than 600 employees who devoted upwards of half a million hours to the development of the E-Freighter.

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