BermudAir is set to become the second airline worldwide to operate Embraer’s E-Freighter and the first in the Americas, following an agreement with Regional One to lease an E190F.
The aircraft will add cargo capacity to BermudAir’s network, which connects Bermuda and the Caribbean with destinations across North America. The E190F will be used to support express cargo, e-commerce, local businesses and other time-sensitive freight requirements across the markets served by the airline.
Embraer and Regional One announced the development on September 17, confirming BermudAir’s position as the second global operator of the E190F. The aircraft will be leased from Regional One and represents the first deployment of the E-Freighter in the Americas.
Since the E-Freighter program was launched, Regional One has placed five firm orders for the E190F. Two converted aircraft have already been delivered and have successfully entered service.
BermudAir currently serves ten destinations across the Caribbean, the United States and Canada. Its fleet consists of two E175s and two E190s, with the E190F adding a new dimension to the airline’s operations while further demonstrating the flexibility of the E-Jets platform.
“Cargo is a natural next step for us,” said Adam Scott, Founder & CEO of BermudAir. “We’ve built a reliable, right-sized operation connecting Bermuda and the Caribbean to North America, and the E190F lets us put that same network to work moving express cargo, supporting local businesses, e-commerce and time-sensitive freight across the islands we serve. It’s an exciting expanded line of business for BermudAir, and one that builds directly on the operational strengths we’ve already established.”
For Regional One, BermudAir’s arrival also represents an important step in broadening the E-Freighter’s international operator base.
“We are excited to welcome BermudAir as the second operator of the Embraer E190F and the first E-Freighter operator in the Americas. As an innovative and rapidly growing airline, BermudAir is an excellent partner to help showcase the versatility and value of the E-Freighter platform,” said George Mamangakis, Chief Investment Officer of Regional One.
“This milestone represents another important step in the continued growth of the E190 P2F program, and we look forward to expanding the global operator base and bringing these highly capable aircraft to customers in markets around the world,” he added.
Embraer also highlighted the significance of the aircraft’s entry into the North American and Caribbean markets.
“BermudAir’s selection of the E190F marks an important milestone for the E-Freighter program as the aircraft enters service in North America and the Caribbean for the first time,” said Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation.
“As one of the region’s fastest-growing airlines, BermudAir is expanding beyond passenger operations and unlocking new opportunities in the air cargo market. The addition of another operator underscores the strong value proposition of the E-Freighter, which was designed to address a unique gap in the cargo market with the right combination of payload, volume, range and efficiency,” Meijer added.
Built on the established E-Jets platform, which has accumulated decades of operational experience, the E-Freighter has been developed around the changing requirements of the express air freight sector. The aircraft is intended for operations requiring fast deliveries and decentralized connections to high-yield markets.
By making use of both its lower and upper decks, the E190F provides more than 100 cubic metres of cargo volume and a payload of up to 13.5 tonnes. This capacity is intended to enable the cost-efficient movement of express freight while addressing a segment of the market between cargo turboprops and larger narrowbody freighters.
The next generation of E-Freighters was specifically developed to bridge that gap while also providing an alternative to older and less efficient freighter aircraft.
Compared with classic narrowbody freighters, E-Freighters are designed to deliver operating costs that are 30% lower while maintaining similar cargo volume and range. They also provide 35% greater volume capacity and more than three times the range of large cargo turboprops.
According to Embraer, the E190F is the quietest and greenest jet freighter, combining efficiency, flexibility and sustainability as it targets the evolving requirements of the air cargo market.
BermudAir’s entry therefore adds another operator to the E190 P2F program while giving the carrier a dedicated platform for expanding its cargo activities across Bermuda, the Caribbean and North America.
