This article is published in Aviation Daily part of Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN), and is complimentary through Aug 24, 2026. For information on becoming an AWIN Member to access more content like this, click here.
Credit: Azorra
FARNBOROUGH, England—Specialist lessor Azorra is entering the Embraer 190F market with a commitment for 20 conversion slots with the aircraft manufacturer.
Azorra will be using E190 passenger aircraft from its own portfolio over time, Azorra President Ron Baur told Aviation Week on the sidelines of the Farnborough Airshow. “We believe the market will be quite big,” he said.
Embraer has had one previous customer for the aircraft—Bridges Air Cargo—but the program has been relatively slow to take off. Azorra is now taking a bet that there is large enough demand for a small freighter. The 190F fits between the ATR 72 and the Boeing 737 Classic, Baur noted. According to Azorra’s estimates, around 300 Classics will have to be replaced in the coming years.
“The 190F is an efficient, capable aircraft,” Baur said. “It is also stage IV compliant,” he pointed out. Azorra is targeting operators that are flying high-value cargo and the e-commerce market. It could take the aircraft into conversions after leases expire and place them with new operators or keep them at their previous operators in the cargo role.
According to Baur, up to four 190F conversions are currently available per year. But Azorra would like Embraer to expand that capacity for the aircraft to become available quicker and in greater numbers.
Azorra has a large-volume engine maintenance deal with GE Aerospace for the GE-34-10 powering the aircraft. It will be able to offer its customers engine MRO through that deal at more beneficial rates than would likely be available to smaller operators.
Aircraft will typically be considered for conversion after 15 to 20 years operating in passenger configurations.
Related Content
