Finnair signs agreement for up to 46 Embraer E195-E2 regional jets
March 23, 2026
Embraer and Finnair have signed an agreement for the supply of up to 46 new E195-E2 regional jets. The agreement sees the Finnish carrier commit to place 18 firm orders for the jets, plus 16 options, and 12 further purchase rights.
The E195-E2 will replace some of Finnair’s older aircraft and will be used to support the airline’s growth strategy in the coming years. Simultaneously, the airline will also source some newer A320ceo family jets to replace some of the ageing Airbus single-aisle aircraft in its current fleet.
Finnair orders up to 46 new Embraer E195-E2 regional jets
Announced on 23 March, the agreement will see Finnair build on its existing relationship with the Brazilian planemaker. The airline already operates 12 of the older generation Embraer E190 regional jets, which it has operated as part of its short-haul fleet since 2015, with each seating 100 passengers in a single class layout.
According to Finnair, deliveries of the 134-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft are scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2027, with three of the firm orders to be delivered in 2027, six to be delivered in 2028 and another six in 2029.
The E195-E2s are planned to be operated by Finnair’s regional partner Norra. Norra operates regional traffic for Finnair with the Embraer aircraft alongside a fleet of 12 ATR turboprop aircraft.
The airline said it has also signed agreements with RTX’s Pratt & Whitney for the purchase of spare engines and maintenance services for the PW1900G GTF engines that power Embraer E2 aircraft.
According to a Finnair statement announcing the deal, the E2 was selected for its “superior efficiency, reliability, and passenger appeal.”
With up to 35% more fuel efficiency than the previous generation E190s operated by Finnair, and offering a quieter cabin with no middle seats, the airline is hoping that the E2 will assist the company in meeting its climate targets while also enhancing passenger comfort.
Speaking about the announcement with Embraer, Finnair’s CEO, Turkka Kuusisto, said that the investment in the new E2 jets represented one of the largest in the airline’s 102-year history and represented a key milestone in the carrier’s future growth strategy.
He added that the new jets will facilitate the company’s expansion across Europe with a reliable and versatile aircraft platform, while reducing carbon dioxide emissions overall.
Meanwhile, Arjan Meijer, President & CEO, Embraer Commercial Aviation, complimented the Finnair decision to order the E2 by stating that the manufacturer “looked forward to helping Finnair modernise its short-haul fleet to better match demand, reduce emissions, and unlock growth” in the future.
Older Airbus single-aisle aircraft to be replaced with younger jets
Alongside the order for the new Embraer jets, Finnair also announced the planned acquisition of up to 12 Airbus A320/321ceos from the used aircraft market, to replace the oldest A319s and A320s in the current Finnair fleet during the coming years.
“A mix of larger and smaller narrow-bodies allows us to tap into the growth opportunities in our markets in a flexible and efficient manner,” said Kuusisto. The exact number of the planned A320/A321ceos and their delivery times will be specified as preparations proceed,” he added.
According to Planespotters.net, the carrier’s current Airbus single-aisle fleet consists of five A319s, ten A320s and 14 A321s. The carrier also operates eight A330s and 18 A350s as part of its long-haul fleet. Overall, the airline operates 79 aircraft with an average fleet age of 15.4 years – a relatively high figure among Europe’s national carriers.
Featured image: Embraer
