Embraer announced its new passenger-to-freighter program two weeks ago and now has a launch customer. 

Nordic Aviation Capital is the launch customer of Embraer’s E-Jet passenger-to-freighter conversion program, which it just officially announced on April 25. The regional leasing company signed an agreement “in principle” to contract up to 10 of its own aircraft. 

Embraer is starting an E-Jet conversion program in response to the booming e-commerce market and the movement by logistics providers to decentralization warehouses.

Aviation Week Network’s Fleet Discovery shows that Nordic Aviation Capital has 236 aircraft in service and 166 in storage. Of those, 165 are ERJs.

The companies did not release the value of this deal and Embraer has not yet disclosed cost of the conversion. However, Embraer did say it expects to deliver the first Embraer E-Jet freighter in 2024. 

“We look forward to working with Embraer on developing an operator base for the E-Jet Freighter as cargo conversions are a key element of our full life-cycle portfolio strategy for the future,” President and CEO of Nordic Aviation Capital Norman C.T. Liu said in a release.

Johann Bordais, president and CEO of Embraer Services and Support, says there are about 700 E190 and E195 aircraft flying with an average age of 15-20 years. He estimates a market opportunity for about 150 converted E190 and E190 freighters.

Embraer will convert the E-Jets on a dedicated line at its Sao Jose dos Campos manufacturing facility in Brazil. 

The E190F’s payload will be 23,600 lb. (10,700 kg) and the E195F’s payload will be 27,100 lb. (12,300 kg).