QantasLink has received its first Embraer E190 (ICAO type code E190) aircraft in Perth, Western Australia, on September 7, 2026. The 100-seat regional jet, registered VH-E9A, arrived following a 20-hour delivery flight from Norwich in the United Kingdom, making planned refueling stops in Bulgaria, Tajikistan, India, Malaysia, and Broome before reaching Perth.
The aircraft is the first of up to 14 mid-life Embraer E190 jets that will progressively replace QantasLink's aging Fokker F100 fleet across Western Australian operations. The fleet renewal program supports both regional scheduled services and resource sector charter operations, with the first E190 scheduled to enter commercial passenger service in January 2027.
Named Exmouth, continuing the airline's tradition of naming aircraft after Western Australian destinations, the jet features a refreshed cabin with a two-by-two seat layout. Customer enhancements include new seats with adjustable headrests, USB-A and USB-C power sockets, personal device holders, onboard Wi-Fi streaming, and Qantas Economy Plus offering increased legroom and priority access.
Ahead of entry into service, QantasLink is conducting 18,000 hours of training for approximately 70 pilots, cabin crew members, and maintenance engineers by the end of the year. As the operational deployment reaches full scale, the airline plans to train more than 600 personnel on the new aircraft type.
The Embraer E190 offers a published full-payload range of 4,537 kilometers (2,450 nautical miles), representing an increase of roughly 1,367 kilometers compared to the 3,170-kilometer range of the Fokker F100. Powered by twin GE CF34-10E turbofan engines, the aircraft provides improved fuel efficiency, lower noise levels, and greater operational flexibility for long-distance regional routes.
