Embraer E190 and E195 Wet Lease: Filling the Gap Between Turboprops and the A320
Airlines often find routes that fall between two aircraft sizes. A 70 seat turboprop is too slow or too small; a 180 seat A320 or 737 flies half empty. The Embraer E190 and E195, with around 100 to 124 seats, fill that gap, and they are widely available on ACMI.
The aircraft
E190: typically around 96 to 114 seats, depending on the cabin layout
E195: typically around 110 to 124 seats
E190-E2 and E195-E2: the newer generation, with new engines and lower fuel burn per seat; the E195-E2 can carry up to about 146 passengers in a high density layout
Most ACMI capacity today is the first generation E190 and E195, often called E1s. E2s are newer and less common on the ACMI market.
When an E-Jet makes sense
Routes of 90 minutes to three hours where a turboprop is too slow
Thin trunk routes where a narrowbody cannot be filled every day
Frequency over size: two daily E-Jet flights instead of one daily A320 can win more business passengers
Airports with short runways or steep approaches, where the E-Jet performs well
Seasonal or charter programmes with 100 to 120 passengers
If most of your sectors are under an hour, compare with the turboprops; see our guide to choosing between the ATR 72 and Dash 8.
Passenger appeal
The E-Jets have two seats either side of the aisle, with no middle seat. Passengers notice the difference from a turboprop, and business travellers prefer it to a middle seat on a narrowbody.
The E190F freighter
Embraer now converts E190s and E195s into freighters. The first E190F flew in 2024, and deliveries to cargo operators followed. Maximum structural payload is about 13.5 tonnes for the E190F and 14.3 tonnes for the E195F, with lower practical figures for low density e-commerce cargo.
That places the E-Jet freighter between the small turboprop freighters and the 737 freighters, which is useful for regional express networks and thin cargo routes.
What to check in an E-Jet ACMI offer
E1 or E2, and the exact seat count and layout
Engine condition and time to the next shop visit, because E1 engines are costly to overhaul
Crew base: where the crews are based and whether they can be positioned to you
Hour to cycle assumption: E-Jets are often used on short sectors, which lessors price in. See block hours, flight hours and cycles.
Getting a quote
Tell us your routes, weekly schedule and seat requirement. We will come back with E-Jet options, and compare them honestly with a turboprop or narrowbody if either fits better. Email info@jetvice.net or see our aircraft leasing page.
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