By Brazil Stock Guide – BermudAir will become the first airline to operate Embraer SA’s E-Freighter in the Americas, adding an E190F leased from Regional One as it expands beyond passenger services into air cargo.
The Bermuda-based carrier is the second operator worldwide of the converted freighter, Embraer (NYSE: EMBJ; B3: EMBJ3) and Regional One said on Wednesday. Regional One has placed five firm orders for the E190F since the E-Freighter program was launched, with two converted aircraft already delivered and in service.
The addition gives BermudAir a cargo aircraft alongside its existing fleet of two E175s and two E190s. The airline serves 10 destinations across the Caribbean, the US and Canada.
“Cargo is a natural next step for us,” BermudAir founder and Chief Executive Officer Adam Scott said. “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.”
The move gives BermudAir an additional source of business tied to express freight and e-commerce while using a network already connecting island markets with North America.
First E-Freighter in the Americas
Regional One Chief Investment Officer George Mamangakis said BermudAir’s entry into the program marks another step in the expansion of the E190 passenger-to-freighter, or P2F, program.
“We are excited to welcome BermudAir as the second operator of the Embraer E190F and the first E-Freighter operator in the Americas,” Mamangakis said. He added that Regional One intends to broaden the aircraft’s operator base across global markets.
Arjan Meijer, president and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, said the deployment marks the E-Freighter’s first entry into service in North America and the Caribbean.
“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,” Meijer said.
Embraer developed the E-Freighter to target a segment between large cargo turboprops and bigger narrowbody jets. The aircraft is based on the company’s E-Jets platform and is designed for express freight operations requiring frequent deliveries and service to decentralized markets.
Cargo Capacity and Operating Costs
The E190F offers more than 100 cubic meters of cargo volume across its upper and lower decks and can carry as much as 13.5 metric tons, according to Embraer.
The Brazilian manufacturer says its E-Freighters can deliver 30% lower operating costs than traditional narrowbody freighters with comparable cargo volume and range.
Compared with large cargo turboprops, Embraer says the aircraft offers 35% more volume capacity and more than three times the range. The company designed the aircraft to replace older freighters and address routes where operators may not require the capacity of a larger narrowbody.
BermudAir began operations in 2023 and has developed a network linking Bermuda, Anguilla, Turks and Caicos, Grand Cayman and Belize with destinations on the US East Coast and in Canada. The carrier estimates its annual economic impact on Bermuda at about $149 million and says it supports more than 1,100 jobs.
Regional One, based in South Florida, buys, leases and sells aircraft, engines and parts and also manages aircraft modifications and conversions. The company has operated in the aviation asset market since 2004.
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