Aircraft Orders & Deliveries
Air Dolomiti Expands Fleet with New Embraer E195 Jets by 2028
Air Dolomiti is adding 13 Embraer E195 aircraft by 2028, replacing older models and expanding its fleet from 28 to 30 planes.
This article is based on an official press release from Air Dolomiti, supplemented by industry research data.
Air Dolomiti, the Italian regional subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, has officially launched a comprehensive fleet renewal program. According to a company press release, the airline has expanded its operational capacity with the arrival of two Embraer E195 aircraft. The first of these regional jets was delivered in December 2025 and is already servicing commercial routes, while the second aircraft arrived on March 16, 2026, and is scheduled to enter service in the coming weeks.
This strategic acquisition is the first step in a multi-year growth program slated to continue through 2028. The airline plans to integrate a total of 13 Embraer E195 aircraft into its operations, gradually phasing out nine of its older 108-seat Embraer E190 models. By the end of this transition, Air Dolomiti expects its total fleet to grow from the current 28 units to 30 aircraft.
“This step marks the beginning of a new phase in the company’s fleet development,” the airline stated in its official release.
While the press release highlights the arrival of the new aircraft, supplementary industry data provides deeper context into the sourcing of these jets. The 13 incoming Embraer E195s are being transferred internally from sister carrier Austrian Airlines. Austrian Airlines is currently retiring its fleet of 17 E195s to consolidate its short- and medium-haul operations around the Airbus A320 family.
Industry tracking data indicates that the first transferred aircraft, formerly registered as OE-LWM with Austrian Airlines, has been re-registered in Italy as I-ENJA. The transition to the E195 model represents a notable upgrade in passenger volume. The incoming E195s typically accommodate between 120 and 130 passengers, delivering a 15 to 20 percent capacity increase over the outgoing 108-seat E190s. This allows Air Dolomiti to offer greater seat availability on strategic routes while maintaining established standards of passenger comfort.
The fleet expansion coincides with a period of significant historical and operational milestones for the carrier. As noted in the company’s press release, Air Dolomiti is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2026. The airline originally commenced operations on January 21, 1991, flying four daily frequencies between Trieste and Genoa using 50-seat De Havilland Dash 8 Series 300 turboprops. Over the past three decades, the carrier has evolved into a vital connector between Italian regional airports and the Lufthansa Group’s primary European hubs.
Supported by the larger fleet, Air Dolomiti has broadened its network footprint. Industry reports show that from its Frankfurt hub, the airline now serves 18 destinations, recently adding cities such as Amsterdam, Birmingham, Bordeaux, Basel, Prague, and Zurich. From Munich, the carrier serves 15 destinations, including new routes to Ljubljana, Luxembourg, and Zurich. Furthermore, the airline is deepening its intra-group synergies by operating services on behalf of Austrian Airlines, connecting Italian cities like Milan Linate, Bologna, and Venice directly to the Vienna hub.
Driven by this expanded network, industry projections estimated that Air Dolomiti would carry over 4 million passengers by the end of 2025, executing more than 53,000 flights with an average load factor of 75 percent. We view this internal transfer of aircraft as a prime example of the Lufthansa Group’s broader fleet optimization strategy. By cascading the Embraer E195s from Austrian Airlines to Air Dolomiti, the parent company efficiently reallocates valuable assets to tailor capacity to specific regional markets. This maneuver minimizes the heavy capital expenditure that would otherwise be required for brand-new aircraft orders.
Furthermore, up-gauging from the E190 to the larger E195 allows Air Dolomiti to maximize slot efficiency. At heavily congested European airports, increasing per-flight passenger volumes is a crucial advantage, enabling the airline to improve unit costs and operational efficiency without the need to secure additional daily departure slots.
According to the company’s press release, Air Dolomiti is adding a total of 13 Embraer E195 aircraft to its fleet between now and 2028.
Industry data confirms that the 13 Embraer E195s are being transferred internally from Austrian Airlines, which is standardizing its own fleet around the Airbus A320 family.
The 13 incoming E195s will replace nine older E190s. Once the fleet renewal program is complete in 2028, the airline’s total fleet will increase from 28 to 30 aircraft.
Sources:
Air Dolomiti Initiates Fleet Modernization with Embraer E195 Arrivals
Strategic Sourcing and Capacity Upgrades
Aircraft Specifications and Passenger Impact
Network Expansion and 35th Anniversary Milestones
Winter 2025/2026 Route Growth
AirPro News analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
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Photo Credit: Air Dolomiti