Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is targeting African airlines with converted passenger jets capable of carrying 13 tonnes of cargo, aiming to capitalize on the continent's underdeveloped air, road, and rail networks.
Embraer is promoting converted E190 passenger jets as 13-tonne freighters for medicines, food, and other time-sensitive African cargo.
- Embraer aims to sell more regional passenger aircraft and converted E190 freighters in Africa.
- Its converted aircraft can carry up to 13 tonnes of cargo.
- The company views weak roads, railways, and direct air links as a commercial opportunity.
- Embraer has not yet announced any African cargo customers, orders, or delivery dates.
Hussein Dabbas, Embraer's managing director for institutional relations in Africa and the Middle East, stated that the continent's limited connectivity presents opportunities for smaller aircraft operating more frequently. He noted in an interview with Brazilian publication Exame that Africa accounts for less than 6% of global air traffic despite its population exceeding 1.2 billion.
Flying through Europe to reach Africa
Many journeys between African cities are indirect, often requiring passengers to connect through European or Middle Eastern airports due to the lack of commercially viable direct services. Dabbas highlighted journeys routed through Paris as an example of this inefficiency.
Embraer suggests that smaller aircraft can help airlines open less-trafficked routes without the financial risk associated with filling larger Boeing or Airbus jets. A carrier operating two or three weekly flights could potentially offer a daily service with a smaller plane, making the route more appealing to business passengers.
Embraer already has a significant presence in Africa, with airlines such as Airlink, Kenya Airways, and EgyptAir operating its regional jets.
Passenger jets become freighters
The company is now promoting cargo versions of its first-generation E-Jets, particularly the E190. Embraer converts these aircraft by removing passenger seats, reinforcing the cabin floor, and installing a large cargo door, enabling them to transport up to 13 tonnes. These freighters could be used to transport medicine, fresh food, e-commerce parcels, and other time-sensitive goods between cities where surface transport is slow or unreliable, especially in landlocked countries and regions where cargo movement can take several days.
Currently, these freighters primarily operate in Europe. Embraer has not yet announced any African orders or disclosed ongoing negotiations with airlines.
The economics must still work
Poor infrastructure alone does not guarantee the profitability of an air cargo route. Air freight is significantly more expensive than surface transportation, requiring cargo to be valuable or urgent enough to justify the higher cost. Converted E190s would also face competition from turboprop freighters, older Boeing 737s, and available capacity in the cargo holds of passenger aircraft.
African airlines often contend with high financing costs, foreign currency shortages, and expensive maintenance. These constraints could limit purchases, even in markets with existing cargo demand. Embraer's strategy is therefore a commercial objective rather than a reflection of completed sales. The key challenge will be identifying routes where a 13-tonne capacity is sufficient to generate profit while being small enough to avoid the risk of an underfilled conventional freighter.
