Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Embraer and the Lanzhou Aviation Industry Development Group from China signed a letter of agreement (LOA) at the Paris Air Show 2023, earmarking 20 Embraer E190 and E195 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversions.

The announcement disclosed the collaborative plans between Embraer and the Lanzhou Group to establish a conversion capability for E190F and E195F aircraft in the northwestern city of Lanzhou, China. Johan Bordais, VP of Services and Support at Embraer, said: “This delivery will be made for certification… But this is a great partnership for China with these 20 airplanes; we have still to define exactly the terms, but most likely, the first few will also be converted in Brazil, and eventually, it will be done in China.”

Embraer Targets P2F Conversion in 2024

Earlier in 2023, Embraer shared a clear timeline for the certification process of its new P2F program. Certification is expected to be completed by 2024, with the program set to enter service the same year. The company will initially focus its certification efforts on Brazil’s Civil Aviation National Agency (ANAC), followed by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Embraer secured its launch customer for the E-Jet passenger-to-freighter program in May 2022, when Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) ordered the conversion of up to ten Embraer E190 and E195 aircraft.

The Need for the P2F Program

Embraer introduced the E190 and E195 P2F program in March 2022 after identifying a gap in the air freight market between turboprop and larger narrowbody cargo aircraft. Embraer said in a statement, “The E-Jet freighters are designed to meet the changing demands of e-commerce and modern trade that require fast deliveries and decentralized operations.”

Over the next 20 years, Embraer anticipates a market demand for 700 E-Jet freighters. The Chinese market alone is expected to require 240 freighters of this size, accounting for 34% of the global demand.

According to Embraer, the E190 and E195 P2F conversions will have over 50% more volume capacity than large cargo turboprops and up to 30% lower operating costs than narrowbody aircraft. The E190F will be capable of carrying around 13,150 kilograms of payload, while the E195F can handle 14,300 kilograms at its maximum structural loads.

Embraer is the world’s third-largest aircraft manufacturer, trailing only Airbus and Boeing. With 85 E-Jets operating in China by carriers such as Tianjin Airlines, Hebei Airlines, Beibu Gulf Airlines, and Colorful Guizhou Airlines, this new agreement will further strengthen its presence in the region.