BermudAir is entering the dedicated freighter market with an Embraer E190F leased from Regional One, becoming the second operator worldwide and the first in the Americas to put the passenger-to-freighter conversion into service.
The move, announced by Embraer and Regional One on 16 September 2026, expands BermudAir’s operations beyond passenger services and gives the airline additional capacity to serve cargo demand across Bermuda, the Caribbean, the United States and Canada. The airline currently operates a fleet of two E175s and two E190s and serves a network spanning the Caribbean, the US and Canada.
BermudAir founder and chief executive Adam Scott said cargo represented a natural extension of the airline’s existing network, with the E190F intended to support express shipments, local businesses, e-commerce and other time-sensitive freight across the markets it serves.
The E190F is based on the Embraer E-Jet platform and has been developed through a passenger-to-freighter conversion programme. Its introduction gives BermudAir access to a dedicated main-deck freighter while retaining the regional operating characteristics of the E-Jet family.
First E190F operator in the Americas
Regional One has placed five firm orders for E190F conversions, according to Embraer. Two converted aircraft have already been delivered and entered service, with BermudAir becoming the second airline to operate the type.
George Mamangakis, chief investment officer at Regional One, said BermudAir’s entry represented a further step in expanding the E190F operator base and marked the aircraft’s first deployment in the Americas.
Regional One is an aircraft lessor, purchaser and seller supporting regional and commercial aviation operators worldwide. The company offers aircraft leasing and sales alongside component and other aviation support services.
For BermudAir, the freighter programme also builds on an existing cargo operation. The airline already offers cargo services between Bermuda and destinations including Boston, Baltimore, Toronto, Orlando, Halifax and Montréal, with current published limits of up to 1,000 kg per shipment and 45 kg per individual piece. The E190F represents a substantial increase in dedicated cargo capability compared with those existing passenger-aircraft cargo services.
E190F targets regional air freight market
Embraer launched its E-Jet passenger-to-freighter programme in 2022, targeting the growing demand for faster deliveries and decentralised air freight services to secondary and tertiary markets. The programme is designed to position the E190F between large cargo turboprops and larger narrowbody freighters.
According to Embraer, the E190F can carry up to 13,500 kg of structural payload when underfloor and main-deck capacity are combined, with cargo volume of more than 100 cubic metres. The aircraft can accommodate up to nine pallets and containers and features a large main-deck cargo door and a 9G rigid barrier.
Embraer says E-Jet freighters offer more than 40% additional volume capacity and three times the range of large cargo turboprops, while operating costs can be up to 30% lower than those of larger narrowbody aircraft. These figures are manufacturer estimates and depend on operating conditions and mission profiles.
Expanding cargo capability across Bermuda and the Caribbean
The E190F gives BermudAir an aircraft specifically configured for cargo operations as the airline expands its role in regional connectivity. Its existing network includes Bermuda, Caribbean destinations and North American gateways, while its published cargo offering already supports shipments across several of these markets.
Embraer president and chief executive of Commercial Aviation Arjan Meijer said BermudAir’s selection represents an important milestone for the E-Freighter programme as the aircraft enters service in North America and the Caribbean.
The entry of BermudAir brings the E190F into another regional cargo market and adds a second operator to a programme that is targeting express freight, e-commerce and time-sensitive shipments requiring dedicated jet-freighter capacity.
