KQ 489: DAR → NBO – Flight Guide

The Embraer E190 is a Brazilian-made regional twin-engine jet that seats up to 100 passengers. It is part of Embraer's E-Jet family and entered service in 2005. The E190 is notable for its 2-2 seating layout (no middle seat), a relatively wide cabin for a regional jet, and under-wing engines which make it quieter inside than rear-engined jets like the CRJ family.

The Embraer E-Jet family has an excellent safety record and has been widely operated for over 20 years. Embraer is the world's third-largest commercial aircraft manufacturer and the E190 has been certified to the highest international standards. It is operated by major airlines and their regional partners across all continents.

The E190 typically seats 96-100 passengers in a 2-2 single-class layout. Some operators configure it with a small first or business class section at the front. The 2-2 layout is highly regarded — every passenger has either a window or aisle seat with no one squeezed in the middle.

Yes, the E190 is considered one of the most comfortable regional jets available. The cabin is wider than the CRJ family, the seat width is generous for a regional aircraft, and the under-wing engine placement means noise levels are noticeably lower than on rear-engined competitors. Overhead bins can fit standard carry-on bags, which is a major practical advantage.

Rows 1-6 are farthest from the engines and are the quietest. Exit row seats provide additional legroom. Seats over the wing (rows 7-12) give the smoothest ride. Avoid the last 4 rows which are near the engines and can be noisier on takeoff.

The E190 is significantly quieter inside than rear-engined regional jets like the CRJ900, because its CF34 engines are mounted under the wings rather than at the tail. The cabin noise level is closer to that of a narrowbody mainline aircraft than a typical regional jet. Front seats are the quietest.

Yes, the E190 has overhead bins that can accommodate standard carry-on roller bags, which is a significant advantage over the CRJ family where bags must typically be gate-checked. Passengers should still board early to ensure bin space near their seat, as the bins are smaller than those on mainline widebody aircraft.

Major operators include JetBlue Airways (one of the largest E190 operators), Air Canada, Azul Brazilian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Swiss (Helvetic), Finnair, and various regional carriers. JetBlue's E190 product is particularly well-regarded for its extra legroom 'Even More Space' rows.

The E190 is an excellent regional aircraft for nervous flyers. The under-wing engines are quieter and less visually dramatic than rear-mounted engines. The aircraft is very smooth in flight, handles turbulence reasonably well for its size, and has a strong safety record. Rows over the wing provide the most stable ride.

The E190 is generally considered more comfortable than the CRJ900. Key advantages include: wider cabin and seats, under-wing engines for lower noise, overhead bins that fit standard carry-ons, and slightly more legroom. The CRJ900 does offer a smoother ride at the front (rear engines keep engine noise away from front seats), but overall most passengers prefer the E190 for comfort.

E190 flights typically range from 30 minutes to 3 hours. It is used on regional and short-haul routes connecting secondary cities to hubs, as well as on thinner routes between mid-size cities. JetBlue also uses it on transcontinental routes in the US on some thinner city pairs.

Wi-Fi availability depends on the operator. JetBlue offers Wi-Fi on its E190 fleet. Other operators vary — Air Canada has connectivity on some aircraft, while smaller regional carriers typically do not. Check your specific flight before travel.

Standard seat pitch on the E190 is approximately 30-32 inches (76-81cm), which is typical for regional jets and adequate for passengers under 185cm. JetBlue's 'Even More Space' rows offer 34-38 inches of pitch, making them among the best legroom options available on regional aircraft.

The E195 is a slightly stretched version of the E190, adding approximately 12 more seats (up to 124 passengers). The seating layout remains 2-2 and the comfort level is similar. The E195 is used on slightly higher-demand routes where additional capacity is needed but a narrowbody mainline aircraft would be too large.