Embraer E-Jet vs Airbus A220: Regional Jet Showdown

Size and Range

Both manufacturers offer a family of aircraft in the 70–160 seat range, targeting the gap between 50-seat regional jets and the A320/737 mainline. The Embraer E-Jet family spans the E170 (70–80 seats), E175 (76–88 seats), E190 (96–114 seats), and E195 (118–124 seats). The E2 variants (second generation with GTF engines) entered service from 2018.

The Airbus A220 (originally the Bombardier C Series before Airbus acquired a 50.01% stake in 2018) comes in two sizes: the A220-100 (100–135 seats) and A220-300 (130–160 seats). The A220-300 overlaps significantly with the E195-E2, and this is where the most direct competition occurs.

Cabin Comfort

The A220's wider fuselage creates a more spacious cabin: its 2-3 seating gives aisle seats 46 cm (18 in) and window seats 46 cm, making it one of the widest-per-seat regional jets available. The overhead bins are generous for a regional aircraft, reducing the gate check-bag issue that plagues smaller regional jets. The A220-300 cabin is genuinely comparable to a full-size narrowbody in comfort.

Embraer's E-Jet uses a 2-2 configuration in standard economy — meaning no middle seat at all. Every passenger has an aisle or window seat, which some passengers strongly prefer for shorter sectors. The E-Jet cabin is narrower overall but the absence of a middle seat is a meaningful comfort differentiator. Business class on E-Jets in a 1-1 or 2-1 layout can be genuinely luxurious for short-haul routes.

Operating Economics

Both use Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan (GTF) engines from the PW1000G family, offering 20% lower fuel burn than previous-generation regional jets. The A220-300 has a lower fuel burn per seat on longer sectors due to its higher capacity and longer range. The E195-E2 has a slightly lower trip cost on shorter sectors with fewer passengers.

Embraer claims the E195-E2 burns 25% less fuel per seat than the previous-generation E195. The A220-300 carries more passengers per trip, so absolute fuel burn is higher even if per-seat efficiency is comparable. For airlines operating thin routes with low passenger volumes, the E-Jet's lower trip cost is compelling. For denser regional routes, the A220's capacity advantage wins on economics.

Operator Base

The E-Jet family has been extraordinarily successful: over 1,800 aircraft delivered to 100+ operators. The E175 in particular dominates the US regional market, where scope clauses in pilot contracts (limiting mainline carriers from operating jets above 76 seats) create a protected E175 market. American Eagle, SkyWest, and Mesa Air operate hundreds of E175s under contract to American Airlines, United, and Delta.

The A220 has accumulated 900+ orders with strong momentum, particularly from full-service carriers replacing aging narrowbodies with a premium product on thinner routes. Delta Air Lines (107 A220s), airBaltic (50), Air France (60), and Swiss (30+) are major operators. The Airbus sales network post-acquisition has accelerated orders significantly.

E2 vs A220

The E195-E2 and A220-300 compete most directly: both seat 130–160 passengers, both use PW geared turbofans, both represent the most advanced technology in their segments. The A220-300 has the edge in range (6,300 km vs 4,800 km), cabin width, and the commercial muscle of the Airbus sales organization. The E195-E2 has the edge in trip cost on shorter sectors, the 2-2 no-middle-seat cabin, and Embraer's strong maintenance network in the Americas.

Market Outlook

The 100–160 seat segment is one of the fastest-growing in commercial aviation. Ultra-long-haul point-to-point routes (like the A220-300's potential on transatlantic thin markets), regional network development in Africa and Southeast Asia, and mainline fleet rationalization all drive demand. Both manufacturers face a strong growth market — and competition from the low end of the A320neo family, particularly as Airbus discusses a potential A220-500 that would stretch the A220 to 200 seats and directly challenge the A320neo's lower end.