Air TransportBridges Air Cargo takes delivery of the world’s first Embraer E190F
Bridges Air Cargo has officially taken delivery of its first Embraer E190F, marking the global debut of the Brazilian manufacturer’s converted freighter program. The announcement was made on August 22 through a LinkedIn post, with the company describing the aircraft as the “first of its kind in the aviation world.”
The aircraft, registered as 9H-BRD, was originally built in 2010 and previously flew with Avianca El Salvador. Now converted under Embraer’s Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) program, the jet is being inducted into Bridges’ fleet, though the company has not yet specified when it will begin revenue operations.
Bridges has confirmed that a second E190F will soon join its fleet as part of its growth strategy. At the Paris Air Show in June, the Maltese carrier was announced as the launch operator of the E190F and even doubled its commitment, increasing its order from two to four aircraft.
“We are committed to building a modern, dynamic fleet to meet the evolving needs of our partners across Europe and beyond,” the airline said in a statement.
Embraer’s freighter program takes off
According to Arjan Meijer, CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, the company is proud to have Bridges as the first operator of the E190F. Embraer launched its P2F program in 2022 to capture demand in the fast-growing e-commerce logistics sector, while also extending the service life of its E-Jet family.
The E190F offers a payload capacity of 10.7 tonnes, while the larger E195F can carry up to 12.3 tonnes. With these models, Embraer aims to provide operators with efficient, right-sized freighters for regional and medium-haul cargo missions.
Bridges Air Cargo already operates an ATR 72 freighter on regional routes. With the addition of Embraer’s E-Freighters, the company is positioning itself to become Malta’s premier air cargo carrier, transforming the island into a strategic hub for express and cargo operations across the Mediterranean and into Africa.
The arrival of the world’s first E190F is not only a milestone for Bridges Air Cargo but also a significant step for Embraer, marking its debut in the P2F freighter market with aircraft designed to meet the logistics challenges of modern e-commerce.
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Ricardo Meier
Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.
