Azul and Embraer celebrate partnership with the 2,000th jet—the 145th delivered to the airline

São Paulo, September 2, 2026

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This milestone reinforces an 18-year partnership that began with Azul’s inaugural flight;

The aircraft will be the 50th E195-E2 model in operation, the most modern jet manufactured in Brazil;

Embraer aircraft have transported over 206 million customers and covered more than 1.6 billion kilometers for the airline.

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When Azul operated its first commercial flight in December 2008, two Embraer E190s were at the start of a story that, nearly 18 years later, has reached a new milestone. On Tuesday (2), the airline received the 2,000th E-Jet aircraft produced by the Brazilian manufacturer; this also marks the 50th Embraer jet to enter Azul’s fleet, reinforcing a partnership that began alongside the airline’s own operations.

The figures help illustrate the scale of this journey: Embraer aircraft have flown over 2.1 million flights for Azul, carried approximately 206 million Customers, and covered more than 1.6 billion kilometers. They have also played a role in launching 453 routes and serving 97 Brazilian airports. The delivery of Embraer’s 2,000th E-Jet symbolizes not only a milestone for the Brazilian manufacturer but also the significance of this partnership to Azul’s history and expansion over nearly two decades—dating back to the delivery of the E195s registered as PR-AYA and PR-AYB. In December 2008, Azul launched commercial operations with two flights: one connecting Campinas (SP) to Salvador (BA) and another linking Campinas to Porto Alegre (RS). Since then, successive generations of Embraer jets have supported the expansion of the airline’s network and its entry into new markets across the country.

“Azul began operations flying Embraer aircraft, and this partnership has been part of our history since day one. When we started operating in 2008, we placed our trust in the quality and efficiency of a Brazilian manufacturer that also believed in our business model. Now, we are pleased to receive the 2,000th E-Jet produced by Embraer—an aircraft that also becomes the 50th jet from the manufacturer in our current fleet. It is a milestone that celebrates a journey built together, connecting more cities, transporting millions of Customers, and contributing to the development of Brazilian aviation,” says John Rodgerson, CEO of Azul.

Over the course of nearly 18 years, Azul has received a total of 145 Embraer aircraft, including the E190, E195, and the state-of-the-art E195-E2 models.

A distance equivalent to more than 41,000 trips around the world

The kilometers flown by Azul’s Embraer aircraft also help put this story into perspective. The more than 1.65 billion kilometers accumulated since 2008 are equivalent to over 41,000 trips around the Earth. Over this period, the jets also logged 3.2 million flight hours.

Beyond their significant presence in the fleet, Embraer aircraft have accounted for 56% of all flights operated by Azul since the airline began operations. This impact extends to passengers as well: more than 206 million Customers have flown on these jets, representing 58% of all people transported by the company since 2008.

There are also records within this history. The aircraft with registration PR-AYE is the Azul Embraer that has covered the greatest distance, having flown over 25.6 million kilometers. Meanwhile, PR-AYF holds the record for the most flight time, with 51,300 hours in the air. On February 5, 2016, the company recorded another impressive figure: 646 takeoffs by Embraer aircraft in a single day—the highest volume in its history.

Pioneering Jets

Over the years, Embraer jets have accompanied Azul since its inception and throughout its expansion across Brazil. The manufacturer’s aircraft have served 97 airports, marked the airline’s debut in 53 new cities, and were used to launch 453 routes.
For two destinations, the arrival of an E195 represented something even more significant: the start of regular commercial air service, marking the first time these locations received a large-scale aircraft. This was the case in Jericoacoara (CE) in July 2017 and Ponta Porã (MS) in January 2022. In both markets, Azul was the first airline to offer scheduled flights.
The jets have also crossed international borders. The longest flight ever undertaken by an Azul Embraer aircraft was a one-off operation between Campinas and Barranquilla, Colombia, in 2011, covering a distance of 4,823 kilometers. Currently, the longest scheduled route operated by the airline using this model connects Recife to Montevideo, a journey of approximately 3,600 kilometers.

This presence in such diverse markets is linked, among other factors, to the versatility of the aircraft. The size of the jets allows the airline to serve cities with varying levels of demand and, in busier markets, to increase flight frequencies throughout the day, offering customers more scheduling options. Different generations of Embraer aircraft have been in service since Azul’s earliest routes, connecting markets such as Campinas, Salvador, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Vitória, and Rio de Janeiro (Galeão and Santos Dumont).

Embraer aircraft have always played a strategic role in building our network. They provide the flexibility to develop markets, connect cities with varying levels of demand, and offer our customers more scheduling options. This versatility has been a feature of Azul since the very beginning and remains fundamental to our business model,” adds John Rodgerson.

Over 2,400 pilots trained

A fleet that has logged millions of flight hours also required a ground-based training infrastructure. Since the partnership began, Azul has trained more than 2,400 pilots to operate E1 and E2 generation aircraft, amassing over 351,000 hours of simulator training.

This preparation began early. In 2009—just one year after the airline launched operations—UniAzul, the company’s market-leading corporate university, received its first Embraer aircraft simulator. Currently, Azul has 711 pilots qualified to operate these jets.

From Flight to Hangar

The relationship with Embraer aircraft continues after they leave the runway and enter the hangar. Since 2023, Azul has performed 51 “heavy checks”—highly complex maintenance inspections—on its E-Jet fleet. Currently, 295 certified mechanics are qualified to work on the Embraer family of aircraft.

One key performance indicator for this operation is the time required to complete the work and return the aircraft to service. For the most recent scheduled maintenance inspections on the E195-E2, for instance, Azul completed the work in about 35% less time than the market benchmark.

The process also involves collaboration between the technical and engineering teams of both companies. Embraer’s support aids in analyzing and resolving issues identified during daily fleet operations, ensuring that the partnership—which began even before Azul’s inaugural flight—continues throughout the aircraft’s operational lifespan.

18 years of partnership and a new fleet milestone

The 2,000th aircraft arrives nearly 18 years after the first E190s helped get Azul off the ground. During this time, successive generations of Embraer aircraft have accompanied the airline as it opened new routes, entered new markets, transported millions of customers, and trained thousands of professionals.

As it takes delivery of the 2,000th E-Jet produced by Embraer, Azul reaches a total of 50 jets from the manufacturer in its current fleet. This reinforces a partnership that began even before the airline’s first flight and remains fundamental to its connectivity strategy in Brazil.

“Today, we celebrate two extraordinary milestones with Azul: the delivery of its 50th E195-E2 and the delivery of the 2,000th E-Jet produced by Embraer. These achievements reflect far more than just numbers; they represent a partnership built on trust, innovation, and a shared commitment to connecting people and communities across Brazil and beyond. We congratulate Azul on this remarkable achievement and thank the entire team for their continued confidence in Embraer and the E-Jet family,” concludes Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation.

“Celebrating Embraer’s 2,000th E-Jet in Brazil is also a special milestone for Azorra. Delivering our 10th E2 to our long-standing partners at Azul makes this occasion even more significant, reflecting the strength of our relationships with both Azul and Embraer, as well as the important role both have played in Azorra’s growth. Our history with Azul dates back to 2008, when Jetscape—Azorra’s predecessor—became the first lessor to supply an E-Jet to the airline. It is a partnership that goes well beyond individual aircraft transactions.”

“Being here in Brazil reflects our shared confidence in the E-Jet family and the value these aircraft deliver to airline customers through their versatility, efficiency, and economic viability. Azorra is proud to own all six variants of the E-Jet family, with aircraft leased to airlines around the world. We congratulate Embraer on designing and manufacturing a world-class platform and look forward to supporting its global success through future deliveries of the E2 line,” concludes Ron Baur, President of Azorra.

Azul’s Embraer Fleet in Numbers

• 145 Embraer aircraft delivered to Azul
• 3,264,721 accumulated flight hours
• 2,177,794 flights operated
• 199 million Customers carried
• 1.65 billion kilometres flown
• More than 41,000 equivalent trips around the Earth
• 97 Brazilian airports served
• 53 cities where Azul launched services with Embraer aircraft
• 453 routes inaugurated using Embraer aircraft
• 2,156 pilots trained on E1 and E2 aircraft
• 301,000 simulator training hours
• 295 certified mechanics for the Embraer family
• 51 heavy checks completed since 2023

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ABOUT AZUL

Azul S.A. (B3: AZUL3; NYSE: AZUL), the official airline of the Brazilian National Football Teams and the largest in Brazil in number of cities served and direct domestic routes, operates more than 800 daily flights to 137 destinations, including over 230 nonstop domestic flights. With an operating fleet of roughly 180 aircraft and more than 15,000 crew members, Azul was ranked by Cirium (a leading aviation data analytics company) as the 4th most punctual airline in the world and in Latin America in 2025, and the top Brazilian carrier in the global ranking. It was also the most punctual airline in Brazil in April, June, and July of 2026. For more information, visit Azul’s website: www.voeazul.com.br

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ABOUT AZORRA

Azorra is a relationship-driven aircraft lessor that provides leasing, financing, fleet transition and asset management solutions to aircraft investors, financiers and airline operators worldwide. Azorra’s multi-cultural team reflects the global markets that we serve and includes core competencies in aviation law, aircraft finance, maintenance, marketing, sales and leasing.  

Our team is led by seasoned veterans having a shared history of success and is complemented by young professionals who bring fresh perspective, ideas and enthusiasm. As of June 30, 2026, Azorra’s fleet comprises 323 assets, including 187 owned and managed aircraft, 99 owned and managed engines and airframes, and a committed pipeline of 37 aircraft.  These commitments include orders for new Airbus A220-300 aircraft and Embraer E190/E195-E2 aircraft. Azorra is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with an additional office in Dublin, Ireland.