On July 2, 2020, Embraer flew a brand new E190-E2 from a manufacturing site in Brazil to Zurich, Switzerland. On its way there, the jet covered 7,488 kilometers non-stop, making the flight a record-length for a regional jet, according to its new owner Helvetic Airways. 

The Embraer E190-E2, registration number HB-AZE, took off from Natal, Brazil 06:37 (local time) and landed in Zurich, Switzerland, at 20:48 (local time) the same evening. The non-stop transatlantic delivery flight took 9 hours and 10 minutes and totaled 7,488 km, Helvetic Airways outlined on social media on July 3, 2020. 

The ideal weather conditions helped the delivery flight to cover the distance, which would usually be associated with a long-haul aircraft instead of a short- to medium-haul jet, as noted by the airline. Under normal circumstances, the Embraer E190-E2 has a range of 5,278 km while carrying 114 passengers in a single class configuration. 

“The flight was performed under optimum conditions that bear no comparison to regular passenger operation,” Swiss regional carrier pointed out. “And with the meteorological conditions also ideal, the crew conducted it to perfection.”

The Switzerland-based air carrier operates an all-Embraer fleet, which is currently in transition from the first generation E-Jets to E2s. Currently, it has 16 aircraft: 11 ERJ-190s and five E190-E2s. Helvetic Airways received its first E2 in October 2019. In total, it has firm orders for 12 E190-E2s and purchase rights for a further 12 E190-E2s with conversion rights to the E195-E2. 

Besides making a record-length flight, the latest delivery, named Zulu Echo, is also the 1,600th E-Jet Embraer produced. In total, the Brazilian plane maker has logged over 1,900 orders for the aircraft, leaving around 300 yet to be delivered.