Embraer Commercial Market Outlook 2025

Woman at an airport

New Opportunities for Sub-150-Seat Aircraft: Toward a more connected Aviation Industry

As the aviation industry adapts to a changing global landscape, regional connectivity is emerging as a strategic priority. According to the latest Market Outlook 2025, airlines are projected to require approximately 10,500 new jets and turboprops with fewer than 150 seats by 2044. Replacement of aging aircraft will account for 52% of all new deliveries, while 48% will be used to grow markets.

This forecast underscores the resilience of the sub-150-seat category amid rising geopolitical fragmentation, economic uncertainty, and growing environmental pressures. These forces are reshaping how airlines plan their networks and invest in fleet composition.

Smaller aircraft—turboprops, regional jets and small narrowbodies—are proving essential for connecting underserved secondary markets. These routes often lack the volume to sustain high-frequency service with larger aircraft, but sub-150-seat models offer the right balance of capacity and frequency to make them economically viable while enhancing overall network reach.

The trend is also reshaping air cargo. With e-commerce growth and increasingly decentralized supply chains, demand is rising for high-frequency cargo services to smaller cities. Smaller aircraft are well-suited to meet this need, especially as carriers seek to optimize fleets and reduce reliance on oversized freighters.

Industry experts suggest that mixed fleets—combining small and large narrowbody aircraft—offer the flexibility needed to serve diverse market conditions. As thinner-demand routes become more prominent, sub-150-seat aircraft are poised to play a critical role in long-term airline growth strategies.

Explore the full Market Outlook 2025 for in-depth insights into how sub-150-seat aircraft are shaping the future of aviation: https://www.embraercommercialaviation.com/marketoutlook/