Bridges Air Cargo has marked a major milestone in European air freight with the successful entry into service of its first Embraer E-Freighter (E190F). The aircraft completed its inaugural commercial flight from Cologne, Germany, to Larnaca, Cyprus, transporting time-sensitive Express materials and signalling a new era in regional cargo operations.
The E-Freighter will operate across the EMEA region for Bridges Worldwide, providing tailored network solutions for the express industry, with payload capacities ranging from 8 to 12 tonnes. The introduction of this aircraft is part of Bridges Air Cargo’s strategy to strengthen its footprint in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa with a versatile, efficient freighter option.
Guy Bridges, CEO of the Bridges Group, highlighted the extensive preparation behind the launch:
“Over the past 12 months, we have developed bespoke containers and handling systems to make this day possible. We are grateful to Embraer and Regional One for their unwavering support. The Embraer 190 freighter will play a critical role in enabling Bridges to provide network solutions to the Express Industry. Obtaining our own AOC registered in Malta provides the ideal platform for developing and expanding E190F operations.”
George Mamangakis, Chief Investment Officer of Regional One, underscored the significance of the milestone for the E-Freighter program:
“Today’s entry into service demonstrates the strength of our partnership with Embraer and Bridges Air Cargo. The successful first flight reinforces our confidence in the E190F platform as a compelling solution across the EMEA region. We look forward to building on this momentum as the program continues to mature.”
Embraer Commercial Aviation also celebrated the achievement. Arjan Meijer, President and CEO, commented:
“We congratulate Bridges Air Cargo on completing its first commercial flight with the E-Freighter. This marks the beginning of an exciting chapter in our partnership. Embraer is fully committed to supporting Bridges’ operations, ensuring top performance, reliability, and long-term success in the cargo market.”
The entry of the Embraer E-Freighter into commercial service demonstrates innovative aircraft solutions for regional express cargo, combining operational efficiency, flexible payload, and reduced environmental impact. Bridges Air Cargo’s adoption of the E190F underscores the growing role of converted regional jets in meeting the evolving demands of the express logistics sector.
