This article is based on an official press release from TrueNoord.

TrueNoord Finalizes Sale of Two Embraer E190s to South Africa’s Airlink

Regional aircraft lessor TrueNoord has announced the completion of a sale involving two Embraer E190 aircraft to Airlink, South Africa’s premier independent regional airline. The transaction, which was finalized in December 2025, marks a strategic shift for the operator as it seeks to bolster its supply-chain resilience.

According to the official announcement, the aircraft were previously on lease to the U.S. carrier Breeze Airways. Unlike traditional fleet expansions aimed at increasing capacity, Airlink has acquired these specific airframes primarily to harvest engines and critical components. This move is designed to support the operational reliability of the airline’s existing fleet amidst ongoing global supply chain constraints.

Strategic Acquisition for Fleet Support

The aviation industry continues to navigate a complex environment characterized by shortages of spare parts and maintenance delays. Airlink’s decision to purchase these older E190 airframes outright reflects a growing trend among operators to secure their own supply lines rather than relying solely on delayed OEM shipments.

In the company statement, Airlink CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht emphasized the necessity of this approach to maintain service levels.

“Securing these aircraft is a strategic move to safeguard the reliability of our Embraer fleet. By acquiring additional engines and components, we can mitigate the impact of global supply chain disruptions and maintain the high standards of service our customers expect.”

, de Villiers Engelbrecht, CEO of Airlink

While the airline is assessing options for the future operation of these airframes, the immediate priority remains the availability of spares, specifically GE CF34 engines, to keep their active fleet flying.

Transaction Details and Partners

The two Embraer E190s were marketed by TrueNoord following their lease term with Breeze Airways. TrueNoord, a specialist regional aircraft lessor headquartered in Amsterdam, manages a fleet of over 100 regional aircraft. This transaction highlights the lessor’s ability to remarket assets across different continents, moving aircraft from a U.S. operator to an African carrier to solve specific operational challenges.

Richard Jacobs, Chief Commercial Officer at TrueNoord, noted the collaborative nature of the deal:

“Further strengthening our existing relationship with this leading African operator, our joint collaborative efforts ensured the sale was finalised in a timely, streamlined and efficient manner. Additional thanks also go to the aircraft’s previous lessee, Breeze, for their support throughout the process.”

, Richard Jacobs, CCO, TrueNoord

Deepening Regional Partnerships

This sale builds upon an established relationship between the two companies. In April 2023, TrueNoord novated the leases of two other E190s to Airlink from Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC). However, the 2025 transaction differs significantly as it involves the outright transfer of ownership rather than a leasing arrangement.

Airlink currently operates a fleet of approximately 70 aircraft, predominantly consisting of Embraer regional jets. While this acquisition focuses on older airframes for parts, the airline is simultaneously pursuing modernization. In mid-2025, Airlink finalized agreements to lease 10 new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, signaling a dual strategy of maintaining current reliability while investing in future efficiency.

AirPro News Analysis

The decision by Airlink to purchase aircraft specifically for “part-out” purposes underscores the severity of the current aftermarket supply chain crisis. For regional operators, the inability to source engines or landing gear can ground viable aircraft for months. By internalizing the supply chain through the acquisition of whole aircraft, Airlink is effectively buying insurance against downtime.

From a lessor’s perspective, TrueNoord’s ability to sell older assets to operators for teardown represents an effective exit strategy for aircraft that may be nearing the end of their leasing viability in primary markets. We expect to see more of these “strategic spare” acquisitions in 2026 as airlines prioritize operational continuity over pure capacity growth.

Sources

• TrueNoord