The Embraer E190: A Regional Jet with Big Ambitions
The Embraer E190 was launched in the early 2000s as part of the Brazilian manufacturer’s ambitious E-Jet family. The aircraft first flew in March 2004, and Embraer went on to build 568 first-generation E190s for carriers around the world. With around 100 seats, the E190 hit a sweet spot between smaller regional jets and larger mainline aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.
For JetBlue, which was still a young disruptor at the time, the E190 offered an opportunity to expand into smaller markets without committing to larger aircraft. The airline took delivery of its first E190 in 2005 and would eventually operate 63 of them at peak, flying them on short-haul and medium-haul routes up and down the East Coast and beyond.
E190: A Workhorse for JetBlue’s Growth
The E190 allowed JetBlue to experiment with routes that didn’t justify an A320. It showed up in places like Richmond, Syracuse, and Buffalo—cities where the economics of a 100-seater made sense. The plane also let JetBlue densify its Northeast shuttle routes, like Boston to New York and Washington.
The cabin was configured in a comfortable 2-by-2 layout with no middle seats, giving passengers an experience often praised as “regional jet comfort with mainline feel.” For a time, it helped JetBlue differentiate itself against legacy carriers still flying cramped 50-seat regional jets.
Why JetBlue Moved On From The Embraer E190
But over time, the economics of the E190 began to falter. The aircraft burned more fuel than newer designs, and its maintenance costs rose as the fleet aged. Meanwhile, Embraer rolled out the second-generation E-Jet E2 family, including the E190-E2, which offered lower fuel burn and new engines.
Despite those improvements, JetBlue opted not to order the E2. Instead, it turned to the Airbus A220-300, which seats around 140 passengers in a similar comfort configuration but offers even better economics. By standardizing around Airbus, JetBlue could streamline training, maintenance, and operations, while still serving smaller markets with an efficient aircraft.
An All-Airbus Fleet: Why It Matters
With the final E190 retired in September 2025, JetBlue is now officially an all-Airbus airline, flying only the A220-300 and the A320 family. That shift brings significant benefits:
- Pilot Training and Certification: Pilots no longer need separate type ratings for Embraer and Airbus. Within Airbus families, there’s a high degree of commonality, so training to move between A220s and A320s is easier and less costly than switching between manufacturers.
- Maintenance and Spare Parts: JetBlue can focus its technical training, tooling, and spare parts inventory on one manufacturer, cutting down on complexity and costs.
- Operational Flexibility: Flight crews can be more easily reassigned between aircraft types, and aircraft can be swapped in and out of schedules with fewer headaches.
- Fleet Modernization: The A220 burns less fuel, makes less noise, and is cheaper to operate—important for both economics and sustainability goals.
Who Still Flies the Embraer E190?
Although JetBlue has moved on, the E190 hasn’t disappeared from the skies. In the U.S., you’ll still find E-Jets with regional operators like Republic Airways, SkyWest, and Envoy (though many of those are E170s and E175s rather than E190s). Breeze Airways also uses the type, though it too has been pivoting to the A220. Globally, the E190 remains in service with airlines in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
But the first-generation E190 is no longer in production. Embraer’s focus is now on the E2 family, which it hopes will keep the E-Jet line competitive against the A220.
Where Are JetBlue’s Retired Embraer E190s Going?
Most of JetBlue’s 63 E190s are being returned to lessors, stored, or resold. Some may be parted out, while others may find second lives overseas or with smaller operators. The used-aircraft market is competitive, and while the E190 still has life left in it, its operating economics will likely confine it to niche roles rather than major carriers.
So Long, E-Jet: The End of JetBlue’s Embraer Experiment
The Embraer E190 was never the backbone of JetBlue’s fleet, but it was a crucial stepping stone in the airline’s growth. It allowed JetBlue to try new routes, connect smaller cities, and refine its brand of comfort and value.
With its retirement, JetBlue closes the book on a two-manufacturer strategy and doubles down on Airbus for the future. The move signals not just an equipment change but a philosophical one: leaner, simpler, more standardized operations. For JetBlue, the E190 era may be over, but the lessons it brought helped shape the airline into what it is today.
