Embraer debuts first E-Jet successfully converted to cargo aircraft

The first E190F, a jet that was converted from passenger transport to freighter (E-Freighter), had its inaugural flight in São José dos Campos, Brazil, successfully today.

For over two hours, the Embraer crew evaluated the E-Freighter jet in flight. Testing will be completed before the aircraft is put into service. Regional One is an American leasing firm that owns the aircraft.

“The E-Freighter programme opens a new business opportunity for Embraer, matching the high-tech E-Jets family to an unbeatable operational performance and meeting the growing global demand for cargo transport in e-commerce,” says Francisco Gomes Neto, President and CEO of Embraer.

“We are quite happy with the quick progress that E190F and E195F made during the testing phase. These aircraft will be valuable resources for our clients, enabling them to handle more flexible and dispersed delivery processes. The inaugural flight is one of several assessments that Embraer is carrying out prior to the E-Freighter aircraft going into service. Tests for the aircraft’s ability to pressurise on the ground and load cargo have already proven successful.

Up to 30% less operating expenses than narrowbodies, three times the range of large cargo turboprops, and over 50% more volume capacity are all features of converted E-Jets to freighters. For the E190F and E195F, the maximum structural payload when combining capacity under the floor and main deck is 13,500 kg and 14,300 kg, respectively.

The E190F and E195F Passenger to Freight Conversions (P2F) programme was introduced in 2022 and involves over 600 staff who worked over half a million hours on the E-Freighter, together with a global network of over 40 suppliers.