Japan Airlines has selected Embraer’s E190-E2 to replace the E170 and E190 fleet operated by regional subsidiary J-Air, ordering 16 aircraft with options for a further 10. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in fiscal 2029, supporting J-Air’s domestic network from its base at Osaka Itami Airport and ending consideration of the Airbus A220 for the requirement.
J-Air currently operates 18 E170s and 14 E190s on routes linking destinations across Japan. JAL has not disclosed how many aircraft of each type will be replaced, the final cabin configuration or the routes that will receive the new jets.
The E190-E2 is powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1900G engines and has a standard capacity of 97 to 114 seats and a range of 5,463 kilometres. JAL selected the aircraft for its improved fuel efficiency, lower carbon emissions and reduced noise, as well as potential maintenance-cost benefits compared with the current-generation fleet.
The order forms part of JAL’s broader plan to maintain and develop its domestic network amid changing travel demand, Japan’s population decline and rising costs associated with inflation and the weaker yen. It also gives Embraer’s E2 family a customer among both of Japan’s major airline groups, following ANA’s earlier selection of the type.