Finnair Orders Up To 46 Embraer E195-E2 Jets In Major Fleet Renewal Move

Finnair has announced a major fleet renewal programme with an order for up to 46 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, marking one of the airline’s most significant investments in recent years.

The agreement includes 18 firm orders, along with options for 16 additional aircraft and purchase rights for a further 12, as Finnair looks to modernise its European fleet and improve efficiency across its short- and medium-haul network.

The deal is particularly notable as it signals a shift away from the airline’s long-standing reliance on Airbus narrowbodies for its European network — and introduces a new generation of Embraer regional jets into the fleet.

Why Finnair Has Chosen The E195-E2

The Embraer E195-E2 is the largest member of Embraer’s E-Jet E2 family and is designed for routes that are too large for traditional regional aircraft but too small for full-size narrowbodies.

Finnair’s leadership highlighted several key advantages of the aircraft:

• Up to 30% lower CO₂ emissions per passenger compared with older aircraft
• Improved fuel efficiency and lower operating costs
• Reduced noise footprint, making it suitable for regional airports
• Greater flexibility for “thin” European routes

These characteristics make the E195-E2 particularly well suited to Finnair’s network, which relies heavily on connecting smaller European cities with its Helsinki hub.

Finnair’s Current Fleet: Airbus At The Core

Markus Eigenheer from Genève, Schweiz, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Finnair currently operates an all-Airbus mainline fleet, with aircraft divided between short-haul and long-haul roles:

Short- and Medium-Haul Fleet

• Airbus A319
• Airbus A320
• Airbus A321

These aircraft are used extensively across Finland and Europe, forming the backbone of the airline’s regional network.

Long-Haul Fleet

• Airbus A330-300
• Airbus A350-900

These widebodies operate intercontinental routes to Asia, North America and the Middle East, with Helsinki serving as a key connecting hub between Europe and Asia.

In total, Finnair operates a fleet of around 80 aircraft, with Airbus types dominating its operations.

The Role of Embraer Aircraft — Past and Present

Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Although Finnair’s mainline fleet is Airbus-focused, the airline has long relied on Embraer regional jets for thinner routes.

Embraer E190 Fleet

• Around 12 Embraer E190 aircraft
• Operated by Nordic Regional Airlines (Norra) on behalf of Finnair
• Typically used on short- and medium-haul European routes

These aircraft have played a key role in connecting smaller cities to Helsinki, offering the right balance of capacity and efficiency.

Older Embraer Types

Finnair has also previously operated Embraer E170 aircraft, which were retired in the 2010s

The move to the E195-E2 represents the next step in this evolution — replacing older regional jets with more capable and efficient aircraft.

What This Means for the Future

The introduction of the E195-E2 will allow Finnair to:

• Replace ageing aircraft within its European fleet
• Better match capacity to demand on smaller routes
• Expand services to new destinations that cannot support larger jets
• Improve environmental performance across its network

At the same time, the airline is expected to continue operating Airbus narrowbodies on higher-demand routes, creating a more flexible and balanced fleet structure.

It’s a move that reflects broader industry trends: right-sizing aircraft, improving efficiency, and using new-generation jets to open new opportunities.