PR: BermudAir, the leading premium leisure carrier to Bermuda and the Caribbean, today announced the newest addition to its fleet: a leased Embraer E190F freighter aircraft, marking the airline’s expanded air cargo service and the first deployment of an Embraer E-Freighter anywhere in the Americas. The aircraft is leased from Regional One, which has placed five firm orders for the E190F since the launch of the E-Freighter program, two of which have already entered service.
“Cargo is a natural next step for us,” said Adam Scott, Founder & CEO of BermudAir. We’ve built a reliable, right-sized operation connecting Bermuda and the Caribbean to North America, and the E190F lets us put that same network to work moving express cargo, supporting local businesses, e-commerce and time-sensitive freight across the islands we serve. It’s an exciting expanded line of business for BermudAir, and one that builds directly on the operational strengths we’ve already established.”
BermudAir’s passenger fleet currently comprises Embraer E175 and E190 aircraft serving ten destinations across the Caribbean, the United States and Canada. The E190F will operate as a dedicated freighter alongside that network, giving BermudAir a cargo capability distinct from and complementary to its passenger operations. Subject to regulatory review and approval.
“We are excited to partner with BermudAir as they expand into dedicated cargo operations. We have long believed in the E190F’s ability to fill a unique and underserved segment of the freight market, providing operators with an efficient, right-sized solution for regional cargo networks,” said George Mamangakis, Chief Investment Officer, Regional One. BermudAir has built a strong reputation through its thoughtful growth strategy and commitment to connecting island communities, making the E190F a natural fit for its operation. We look forward to supporting BermudAir’s continued success and exploring additional opportunities to work together in the years ahead.”
Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, added, “BermudAir’s selection of the E190F marks an important milestone for the E-Freighter program as the aircraft enters service in North America and the Caribbean for the first time. As one of the region’s fastest-growing airlines, BermudAir is expanding beyond passenger operations and unlocking new opportunities in the air cargo market. The addition of another operator underscores the strong value proposition of the E-Freighter, which was designed to address a unique gap in the cargo market with the right combination of payload, volume, range and efficiency.”
The E190F gives BermudAir a standalone cargo capability that runs alongside its passenger network rather than depending on it. Built on the proven E-Jets platform, the E-Freighter is designed for the fast-evolving demands of express air freight, which relies on quick turnarounds and decentralized operations into high-yield markets. Combining its lower and upper decks, the E190F offers more than 100 m³ of cargo volume and up to 13.5 tons of payload enabling cost-efficient transport of express cargo to and from island communities that are often underserved by dedicated freight service.
The E-Freighter was developed to fill the gap between turboprops and larger narrow bodies and to replace older, less efficient freighter models. Compared with classic narrowbody freighters, it delivers roughly 30% lower operating costs with similar cargo volume and range, while offering 35% extra volume capacity and more than three times the range of large cargo turboprops. For BermudAir, the addition supports a broader strategy of diversifying revenue while continuing to invest in the passenger experience that has defined the airline since its 2023 launch.
Notes:
This is a smart move for the airline.
The airline’s brand has caught on and now handles similar traffic to its competitors. Its acceleration is clear despite competing against far bigger and better-known brands.
Here’s the freight picture. Currently, the airline has no freight traffic, and Delta is the big dog. Notice how American leads passenger traffic, and Delta leads freight. Neither uses dedicated freighters.
Here’s the freight trend from the US to Bermuda. The island imports virtually everything, and the US is the #1 source given its proximity. Currently, Cargojet offers freighter service from Newark five days/week. Cargojet’s scheduled Newark–Bermuda cargo service has at times been operated under ACMI arrangements with other carriers (e.g., Boeing 737 freighters), and the airline’s own fleet consists of 757/767 types.
Here’s the state of the air freight market from the US to Bermuda.
The US DOT T-100 data shows the market flexed down in 2024, but picked up in 2Q26. The timing on the E190F is good. The sooner BermudAir gets into operation, the better.
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