New Delhi, India: India’s civil aviation regulator has granted Type Certification to multiple aircraft from Embraer’s E-Jets family, marking a significant regulatory milestone that clears the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer to expand its commercial presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.
Embraer announced on July 7 that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has awarded Type Certification to the E190, E195 and next-generation E195-E2. The certification complements the E175, which had already received DGCA approval earlier and is currently operated in India by regional carrier Star Air. With the latest approvals, Embraer’s entire first-generation E-Jets lineup, along with the E195-E2, is now certified for operations in the country.
A Type Certificate is a mandatory regulatory approval under Rule 50 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, confirming that an aircraft’s design complies with India’s applicable airworthiness and safety standards. Without this certification, an aircraft type cannot be commercially operated or sold to airlines in India. The approval follows DGCA’s technical assessment of the aircraft and validates their overall design, systems and operational safety.
The certification is expected to strengthen Embraer’s position as Indian airlines continue evaluating aircraft suited for regional connectivity and thinner domestic routes. The company said the approval enables it to actively market the aircraft to Indian operators while supporting the country’s growing demand for right-sized jets between turboprops and larger narrowbody aircraft.
Embraer Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing and Head of Asia Pacific Commercial Aviation Raul Villaron welcomed the approval, thanking the DGCA for its assessment. He said the E-Jets’ operating economics, performance and passenger comfort would help reshape regional aviation in India while supporting the Government of India’s UDAN regional connectivity programme.
According to Embraer, the E-Jets family is designed to bridge the gap between turboprop aircraft and larger single-aisle jets. The aircraft can operate routes that are either too small to justify an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 or too long for turboprops, allowing airlines to improve network connectivity while maintaining profitability. Regional Vice President of Sales Adity Shekhar said the latest certifications will enable airlines to expand networks and open “blue ocean” routes that were previously commercially difficult to serve.
The manufacturer highlighted several operational advantages of the aircraft. The E-Jets can fly sectors of up to seven hours, allowing airlines to connect longer regional and short-haul international destinations. They are also capable of operating from airports with short runways or lower pavement strength, making them suitable for underserved airports across India.
Among the newly certified aircraft, the E195-E2 is the flagship model. Embraer describes it as the world’s quietest and most fuel-efficient small narrowbody aircraft, offering substantially lower fuel burn and operating costs than previous-generation regional jets while providing improved passenger comfort. These characteristics are expected to appeal to airlines seeking to reduce operating costs while expanding regional capacity.
Embraer’s global E-Jets programme has established a significant presence since entering service. The manufacturer has delivered more than 1,900 E-Jets worldwide, with the family currently operated by over 80 airlines across more than 50 countries. The aircraft have accumulated millions of flight hours and are widely used on regional and short-haul networks across North America, Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia.
India already represents an important market for the Brazilian manufacturer. Nearly 50 Embraer aircraft across 11 different models are currently operating in the country across commercial, business and defence aviation. Star Air remains the only Indian airline operating Embraer commercial jets, with a fleet of 11 E175 and ERJ145 aircraft serving regional destinations.
The certification also comes amid Embraer’s broader manufacturing ambitions in India. Earlier this year, the company expanded its Memorandum of Understanding with Adani Defence & Aerospace to establish a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the E175 regional jet in India under the country’s Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) programme. The initiative is intended to develop a domestic aerospace manufacturing ecosystem through phased localisation while supporting India’s long-term aviation growth strategy.
