Embraer nears regional jet order from Japan Airlines in blow to Airbus

Japan Airlines is leaning toward choosing Brazil’s Embraer over Airbus for an order of about 20 regional jets, according to people familiar with the matter.

The carrier, which has been weighing whether to order Embraer’s E2 or Airbus’ A220, is due to make a final decision as soon as October, the people said, declining to be identified discussing confidential information. A decision hasn’t been finalized and circumstances could still change, they said.

JAL didn’t respond to a request for comment during the holidays, Embraer and Airbus declined to comment.

Should JAL settle on the E2, it would allow Embraer to deepen its ties with one of its biggest Asian customers, and deprive Airbus’ A220 program of another marquee client. The E2 has snagged high-profile orders from ANA Holdings, Finnair and SAS Scandinavian Airlines in the past year, and is in a competitive race to secure a large order from India’s IndiGo.

It was reported in November 2025 the Tokyo-based carrier was considering as many as 40 regional jets and 30 propeller planes.

Airbus has won A220 deals, including 150 orders from AirAsia from Malaysia. However, the carrier has faced concerns about its financial health as fuel costs surge from the U.S.-Iran war, though the company has sought to ease such concerns.

Embraer’s standard E190-E2 jet can seat 97 passengers in a two-class configuration of economy and business class, while the comparable A220-100 can fit 120 travelers. Both aircraft are powered by RTX’s Pratt & Whitney turbofan engines.