Bridges Air Cargo has been announced as the first operator of Embraer’s E190F converted aircraft.
The aircraft, which is being marketed as the E-Freighter, is owned by US lessor Regional One and is due to start operations for Bridges Air Cargo in the third quarter of the year.
Bridges Air Cargo offers logistics solutions for the express and courier industry. Its customers include FedEx, DHL and UPS.
Guy Bridges, managing director of Bridges Air Cargo, said: "It’s fitting that Bridges becomes the launch customer for the E-Freighter as we celebrate 35 years of operations and over a billion kilograms moved for the express market.
"The aircraft’s size fills a unique and underserved space in the cargo segment. It strengthens our operational capability and paves the way for the development of promising new routes. We are excited to partner with Embraer and Regional One on what we see as a pivotal advancement for regional air cargo.”
The E-Jet freighter programme has been created in response to e-commerce growth and increased demand for regional cargo capacity, especially to smaller markets.
If combining capacity under the floor and maindeck, the maximum structural payload is 13.5 tonnes for the E190F and 14.3 tonnes for the E195F, meaning it sits between the larger turboprops, which can carry around 10 tonnes, and the smaller narrowbody freighters with a capacity of around 20 tonnes.
Regional One president Hank Gibson added: "Together with Embraer and our valued partners, we are setting a new benchmark for regional cargo transport - transforming one of the world’s most efficient regional jets into the next-generation freighter.
"Today, we’re delighted to welcome Bridges Air Cargo as our newest partner in this transformative journey, reinforcing our shared vision for the future of regional logistics."
Embraer said the jet was developed to fill a gap in the air cargo market and to replace older, less efficient models.
"E-Jets converted to freighters will have over 40% more volume capacity, three times the range of large cargo turboprops, and up to 30% lower operating costs than larger narrowbodies," the company said.
Earlier this year, Embraer confirmed its E190 converted freighter has been fully certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) after the agency published the type certificate document late last year.
The US Federal Aviation Administration and the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil have also certified the freighter.
