JAL orders up to 26 Embraer E190-E2s to renew J-AIR regional fleet

Japan Airlines will buy up to 26 Embraer E190-E2 aircraft for its regional subsidiary J-AIR, the airline said on October 14, 2026. The agreement covers 16 firm orders and 10 options. First deliveries are due in fiscal year 2029.

The new jets replace the E170 and E190 aircraft J-AIR flies today. Based at Osaka International Airport, J-AIR uses its regional jets on domestic services from Hokkaido in the north to the Amami Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture in the south.

JAL described the order as part of broader adjustments to its domestic business, pointing to weaker business travel, long-term population change in Japan, and higher costs linked to inflation and a weak yen. Under a long-term plan the carrier calls JAL Group Management Vision 2035, it intends to keep its domestic network viable, calling it essential infrastructure for the country.

JAL said the E190-E2 fits its expectations for future demand and environmental targets, and that the aircraft will support regional economies.

Mitsuko Tottori, JAL's President and group CEO, said the domestic network underpins local economies and everyday life. The new aircraft's environmental performance and operating economics, she said, would help the group maintain and build a sustainable air network for the next generation while giving passengers a better experience.

According to JAL, the E190-E2's engines and redesigned wing deliver substantial reductions in fuel burn, emissions, noise and maintenance costs.