QantasLink has taken delivery of its first Embraer E190 in Perth, initiating a major fleet renewal program for its Western Australian resources charter and regional passenger operations.

The aircraft, registered as VH-E9A and named “Exmouth,” arrived on September 6, 2026. According to a press release from Qantas Airways Limited, the 100-seat jet will progressively replace the carrier’s legacy Fokker 100 fleet, with entry into commercial service targeted for January 2027 pending regulatory approval.

Transitioning from the Fokker 100

The arrival of the Embraer E190 marks a significant operational shift for Network Aviation, which operates the flights on behalf of QantasLink. Network Aviation introduced its first Fokker 100 in 2008 and formally joined the QantasLink operation in 2011. The current Fokker 100 fleet operates approximately 120 charter and passenger services per week, serving more than 25 regional destinations across Western Australia.

To modernize this network, QantasLink plans to acquire up to 14 mid-life Embraer E190 aircraft. The new fleet will offer increased range and improved fuel efficiency compared to the older Fokker airframes, expanding operational capabilities across the vast Western Australian geography.

“The arrival of our first E190 marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. For almost 20 years, the F100 has played a vital role connecting regional Western Australia and supporting the resources sector, and now we’re investing in the next generation of aircraft to serve our customers and communities for decades to come,” said Trevor Worgan, Chief Operating Officer and Regional General Manager Network Aviation Australia.

Cabin Enhancements and Airbus A320 Upgrades

The transition to the Embraer E190 brings updated interior amenities for the approximately three million journeys the fleet supports annually. Worgan noted that the aircraft represent a step change in the customer experience, featuring more comfortable seating, onboard Wi-Fi, USB charging ports, and the introduction of Qantas Economy Plus seating.

This fleet renewal coincides with a broader investment in QantasLink’s Western Australian operations. The airline is concurrently upgrading 19 Perth-based Airbus A320s with new seating and Wi-Fi connectivity. The first of these upgraded Airbus A320s is scheduled to be completed by late October 2026.

Workforce Training and Delivery

The delivery of VH-E9A involved a 20-hour journey originating in Norwich, United Kingdom. The aircraft transited through Bulgaria, Tajikistan, India, and Malaysia before making its final Australian fuel stop in Broome and continuing to Perth.

Integrating the new aircraft type requires substantial local workforce investment. QantasLink reported that 70 pilots, cabin crew, and engineers are currently undergoing initial specialist training. The company expects to complete 18,000 combined hours of training by the end of 2026. Once the Embraer E190 fleet reaches its full scale, more than 600 staff members could be trained to support the operation.

AirPro News analysis

We view the selection of the Embraer E190 as a highly pragmatic replacement for the Fokker 100 in the Western Australian charter market. The 100-seat capacity provides an exact one-to-one replacement for the Fokker 100, allowing QantasLink to maintain current scheduling and capacity models for its mining and resources clients without disruption. Furthermore, acquiring mid-life airframes rather than factory-new jets keeps capital expenditure manageable for charter operations, which often feature lower daily utilization rates than scheduled commercial networks. The added range of the E190 also provides a buffer for adverse weather routing and opens the door for longer direct charter routes that the Fokker 100 could not comfortably serve.

Sources: Qantas Airways Limited

Jackson Square Aviation delivered the first of two leased Airbus A220-300 aircraft to Breeze Airways on September 3, 2026, supporting the carrier’s ongoing transition to a single-type fleet.

The delivery, announced via a company press release, marks another step in Breeze Airways’ strategy to utilize the A220-300 to profitably connect unserved and underserved secondary markets across the United States. A second aircraft under the same lease agreement is scheduled for delivery in October 2026.

Expanding the A220-300 fleet

Breeze Airways continues to scale its operations around the Airbus narrowbody. Ryan Schroeter, Vice President and Treasurer for Breeze Airways, noted that the airline is focused on connecting communities with a premium travel experience.

“Jackson Square has supported Breeze from the beginning. We are thrilled to partner with them as we scale our Airbus A220 fleet and continue connecting unserved and underserved communities providing a premium travel experience,” Schroeter said.

Jackson Square Aviation highlighted the aircraft’s operational economics. John Yanney, Head of Marketing Americas & OEM Relations for the lessor, stated the A220 provides an ideal balance of range, capacity, and efficiency for the airline’s network.

“The A220 has established a strong benchmark for single-aisle efficiency, combining lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions and an enhanced passenger experience. We’re delighted to support Breeze with this delivery and to continue building on the strong partnership we’ve shared since the airline launched operations,” Yanney said.

Strategic leasing partnerships

The agreement with Jackson Square Aviation follows similar leasing arrangements as Breeze Airways aggressively expands its fleet. In March 2026, the airline took delivery of three Airbus A220-300s from Dutch regional aircraft lessor TrueNoord.

The A220-300 serves as the backbone of the airline’s point-to-point network strategy. The aircraft’s lower operating costs allow the carrier to sustain routes between Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities that larger narrowbody jets cannot serve economically.

AirPro News analysis

We view Breeze Airways’ continued reliance on leased A220-300s as a calculated approach to rapid capacity growth without the immediate capital expenditure of direct manufacturer purchases. By diversifying its leasing partners across firms like Jackson Square Aviation and TrueNoord, the airline mitigates financial risk while securing the specific airframes required to execute its niche route strategy. The A220-300 remains uniquely positioned for this market-analysis segment, offering mainline range with regional jet economics.

Sources: Jackson Square Aviation LLC

ANA Holdings Inc. (ANA HD) has finalized an agreement with Embraer to acquire eight additional Embraer E190-E2 regional jets, bringing the Japanese aviation group’s total firm orders for the type to 23 aircraft. The transaction, announced on September 3, 2026, underpins a newly established capacity purchase agreement that will see the modern narrowbodies replace aging regional aircraft on domestic Japanese routes.

In a press release issued by Embraer, the manufacturer confirmed the order accelerates ANA HD’s regional fleet modernization strategy. The aircraft will be deployed under a comprehensive Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance (ACMI) partnership with Japanese regional carrier IBEX Airlines, an arrangement formally approved by the ANA HD board of directors on July 29, 2026.

Fleet modernization and the IBEX Airlines partnership

Under the terms of the ACMI agreement, All Nippon Airways (ANA) will serve as the marketing carrier, overseeing route planning and ticket sales for the regional network. IBEX Airlines will operate the flights using the newly ordered Embraer E190-E2 aircraft. The introduction of the E2 fleet will allow IBEX Airlines to retire its legacy fleet of Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft.

Deliveries of the new Embraer jets to ANA HD are scheduled to begin in 2028. The companies are targeting fiscal year 2029 for the official launch of the ACMI operations between ANA and IBEX Airlines.

ANA Holdings President and CEO Koji Shibata stated that the additional E190-E2 order accelerates the company’s efforts to build a sustainable regional aviation network in Japan. He noted the agreement underscores ANA HD’s confidence in Embraer’s technology to reduce both environmental impact and operating costs while elevating regional connectivity.

Embraer’s growing footprint in the Japanese market

The September 3 agreement builds upon ANA HD’s initial commitment to the E2 program. The company placed its first firm order for 15 E190-E2 aircraft, along with five options, on February 25, 2025. ANA HD originally selected the Embraer E190-E2 to fulfill its regional fleet requirements following the 2023 cancellation of the Mitsubishi SpaceJet program, for which ANA was the intended launch customer.

Embraer Commercial Aviation President and CEO Arjan Meijer said the manufacturer is honored by the continued confidence from ANA HD and looks forward to supporting the airline group’s growth plans.

“With its exceptional economics and fuel efficiency, the E2 will support expanded connectivity across Japan along with better comfort and space for passengers,” Meijer said.

AirPro News analysis

We view ANA HD’s decision to exercise further E190-E2 orders as a pragmatic stabilization of its regional strategy following the collapse of the domestic SpaceJet initiative. By structuring the deployment through an ACMI agreement with IBEX Airlines, ANA HD effectively outsources the operational transition while retaining network control and marketing revenue. The transition from the Bombardier CRJ700 to the E190-E2 will provide a substantial step up in capacity and fuel efficiency, aligning with broader industry trends toward upgauging regional networks with next-generation crossover narrowbodies. The timeline also provides IBEX Airlines with a clear runway to phase out its older airframes before maintenance costs on the out-of-production CRJ fleet escalate further.

Sources: Embraer