Japan Airlines has renewed its support agreement with Embraer for its 32 E-Jets, announced the Brazilian manufacturer on Monday, September 21. The deal comes at a time when the Japanese carrier is evaluating new aircraft for its regional fleet.
The multi-year agreement covers maintenance, repair and spare-parts support under Embraer's Pool Program for 18 E170s and 14 E190s operated by J-Air, the regional subsidiary wholly owned by Japan Airlines.
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J-Air's E170s are configured with 76 seats, while its E190s carry 95 passengers, including 15 in Class J and 80 in economy. The airline says its E-Jet operation recorded average service reliability of 99.8% over the past six months.
The first E170 entered J-Air service in 2009, although some aircraft in the current fleet were delivered as early as 2008. The E190 followed in 2016, and J-Air received its 14th aircraft in 2018.
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The E170s are consequently approaching the stage at which Japan Airlines must decide how to replace the oldest aircraft. The E190 fleet is considerably younger, with most aircraft around a decade old.
E2 and A220 considered for replacement
Japan Airlines has already approached manufacturers about the next generation of its regional fleet.
The carrier sought proposals in 2025 for around 40 regional jets, with the Embraer E2 and Airbus A220 under consideration, according to Bloomberg. The wider fleet review also included as many as 30 turboprops.
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An E2 selection would continue a relationship with Embraer that dates to the introduction of the E170, while the A220 would bring a new aircraft manufacturer into J-Air's jet operation.
The decision has additional significance after the collapse of Japan's Mitsubishi SpaceJet program. Japan Airlines had originally intended to make the Japanese-built aircraft the centerpiece of J-Air's future fleet.
32 SpaceJets were never delivered
Japan Airlines initially signed a letter of intent for 32 Mitsubishi Regional Jets, as the aircraft was then known, in August 2014. The agreement became a firm order for all 32 aircraft in January 2015.
At the time, JAL planned to begin receiving the aircraft in 2021 and described the MRJ as the future key aircraft of its regional jet fleet.
Repeated development and certification delays prevented that from happening. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries eventually terminated the SpaceJet program in 2023 without delivering an aircraft to Japan Airlines.
The cancellation left JAL operating the E170 and E190 fleet that the SpaceJet had been expected to complement and eventually help renew.
ANA has already selected the E190-E2
Japan Airlines' regional fleet decision also comes as rival ANA prepares to introduce the latest generation of Embraer jets in Japan.
ANA Holdings placed a firm order for 15 E190-E2s in 2025, with five options, becoming the first Japanese customer for the E2 family. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2028.
The group subsequently added another eight firm E190-E2s in 2026, increasing its firm commitment to 23 aircraft while retaining the five options.
