Enugu Air Expands Fleet With New Embraer 195, Plans Rapid Growth In 2026

Nigerian regional operator Enugu Air has expanded its services with the arrival of a new Embraer 195.

The airline, owned by Enugu State, began services in 2025 with a pair of Embraer 170s and has since added an E190. The latest aircraft, a 17-year-old example, was formerly operated by U.S. carrier Breeze Airways, which switched from an initial fleet of Embraer regional jets to Airbus A220s.

Like the previous aircraft, the latest arrival will be operated under the AOC of another Nigerian carrier, XE Jet, on behalf of Enugu Air. The CEO of XE Jet, Emmanuel Iza, said during arrival ceremonies for the new aircraft that two more E195s would be arriving in the near future.

Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, has indicated that the state’s airline is planning for rapid expansion throughout 2026, with as many as 20 aircraft pencilled in for the fleet by year-end.

Enugu Air is one of a growing batch of new, or planned, regional airlines within West Africa’s largest country, where regional governments are setting up their own carriers in an attempt to improve connectivity and economic prospects. 

Many have felt for some time that their areas have been underserved by Nigeria’s existing airlines. Enugu Air currently operates to six domestic destinations.