Following certification by regulatory authorities Faa (United States), Easa (European Union), and Anac (Brazil), Embraer’s new and first dedicated freighter is now ready to enter service, having already secured its inaugural client: Bridges Air Cargo. The Maltese carrier is owned by UK-based Bridges Worldwide and provides transport services across Europe for Dhl Express, FedEx, and Ups. Active since late 2023, Bridges Air Cargo currently does not own any aircraft and operates using an ATR72 from another company. It is set to receive two E-Freighter E190Fs leased from US firm Regional One, with plans to begin operations with them in the third quarter of 2025.
Guy Bridges, CEO of Bridges Air Cargo, stated that the aircraft's size fills a unique and underserved gap in the cargo segment. He added that it enhances the airline’s operational capability and paves the way for the development of promising new routes. He expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with Embraer and Regional One, calling it a pivotal advancement in regional air freight transport.
The Embraer E190F is a compact, narrow-body jet positioned between larger aircraft such as the B737 and turboprops. It offers a main deck payload capacity of 10,000 kg, with an additional 3,500 kg below deck—thirty percent more than comparable turboprop models, which it also surpasses in range. According to Embraer, the aircraft was developed to meet the evolving demands of e-commerce and modern trade, which increasingly rely on fast delivery and decentralised operations, driving demand for quicker shipment to secondary and tertiary markets.
