LATAM Brazil begins Embraer E195‑E2 test flights ahead of fleet expansion

LATAM Airlines Brasil filed a certification plan with Brazil’s civil aviation authority (ANAC) to launch test flights of the new Embraer E195‑E2. The inaugural flight is scheduled for 17 August, departing São Paulo (Guarulhos) and stopping in Porto Alegre and Curitiba before returning. Subsequent test stages will include routes to Sinop, Manaus and a long‑range circuit linking São José dos Campos, Sinop, Manaus, Guarulhos and Porto Alegre.

The airline has a firm order for 24 E195‑E2 aircraft, making it the second‑largest operator of the type in Brazil after Azul. LATAM’s CEO said the group is assessing 50 optional aircraft and is studying deployment of the E2 family in other South‑American markets such as Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Chile. Deliveries of the first 24 planes are expected in the second half of 2026, initially for LATAM Brasil, with the potential to add up to 35 new destinations to its network.

The E195‑E2, built by Embraer, offers up to 25 % lower fuel burn, reduced CO₂ emissions, quieter operation and lower operating costs, making it suited for medium‑density regional routes. Azul Linhas Aéreas already operates a large fleet of the type, and LATAM’s order of up to 74 aircraft (24 firm, 50 options) aims to boost connectivity across South America.