Malta-based Bridges Air Cargo is preparing to launch operations with its first Embraer E190 converted freighter, marking a key milestone for the airline just five months after delivery.
The E190F, registered 9H-BRD and leased from US lessor Regional One, was delivered in August last year. Bridges Air Cargo, announced as the launch operator of the E190F in June 2025, shared in a LinkedIn post on 24 January that the aircraft is now in the final stages of preparation and will soon begin service.
Connecting Malta to Europe and North Africa
Once operational, the E190F will link Malta with key markets across North Africa and Europe, offering flexible and reliable cargo solutions. Bridges Air Cargo aims to strengthen Malta’s role as a growing air cargo hub while continuing to provide tailored ad hoc charters to meet evolving customer needs.
According to Planespotters, the aircraft is 15 years old and currently parked at Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST). While a second E190F was expected, it has not yet been delivered.
About Bridges Air Cargo and the E190 Freighter
Bridges Air Cargo, which received its Malta Air Operator Certificate (AOC) in 2023, serves the express and courier sector, with clients including FedEx, DHL, and UPS.
Embraer’s E-Jet freighter programme, launched in March 2022, converts E190 and E195 passenger aircraft into efficient freighters. The E190F offers 40% more volume capacity and three times the range of large cargo turboprops, while achieving up to 30% lower operating costs compared with larger narrowbodies.
With combined underfloor and main-deck cargo space, the E190F’s maximum structural payload is 13,500 kg, while the larger E195F variant can carry 14,300 kg.
Bridges Air Cargo’s first E190F signals new opportunities for regional cargo connectivity in Europe and North Africa, bringing modern, cost-efficient freighter capacity to the growing Maltese logistics market.
