Malta-based Bridges Air Cargo is nearing the operational debut of its first Embraer E190 converted freighter, five months after taking delivery of the aircraft. Registered as 9H-BRD and leased from US lessor Regional One, the E190F marks a significant step in the carrier’s strategy to expand its European and North African network.
Announced as the launch operator for Embraer’s E190F programme in June 2025, Bridges Air Cargo received the aircraft in August of the same year. In a LinkedIn update on 24 January 2026, the airline confirmed that the E190F is now in the final stages of preparation and is set to enter service shortly.
Once operational, the aircraft will connect Malta with key markets across North Africa and Europe, offering flexible and reliable freight solutions for express and courier logistics. Bridges Air Cargo emphasised that the freighter will support the island’s ambition to become a growing air cargo hub while continuing to provide tailored ad hoc charter services for its customers, which include industry leaders FedEx, DHL, and UPS.
According to Planespotters, the aircraft is 15 years old and currently stationed at Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST). While a second E190F was expected to join the fleet following the first delivery, this aircraft has not yet been delivered.
Bridges Air Cargo operates under a Malta AOC, issued in 2023, and specialises in logistics for the express and courier sector. The introduction of the E190F aligns with Embraer’s E-Jet freighter conversion programme, launched in March 2022 to convert E190 and E195 passenger aircraft into dedicated freighters.
Embraer highlights that the E190F offers up to 40% more cargo volume and three times the range of traditional large turboprops, with operating costs up to 30% lower than larger narrowbodies. The aircraft combines underfloor cargo capacity with main deck loading, providing a maximum structural payload of 13,500 kg. The larger E195F variant offers a slightly higher payload of 14,300 kg, providing airlines with additional flexibility for regional and short-haul operations.
The deployment of the E190F by Bridges Air Cargo underscores the growing trend of regional carriers adopting narrowbody freighters to serve time-sensitive, high-frequency cargo markets, while balancing operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness in a competitive European logistics landscape.
