Hunnu Air Extends Embraer E2 Range for Long-Haul Holiday Flights

Hunnu Air's Long-Haul Regional Flights

Mongolian airline Hunnu Air operated seasonal winter charters from its base in Ulaanbaatar to Phu Quoc, Vietnam, during the winter 2025/2026 season. These flights, covering a substantial 2,598 miles (4,180 km), sometimes saw the aircraft airborne for over six hours. For these extended missions, the carrier deployed its Embraer E195-E2 aircraft.

Hunnu Air, a smaller operator based at Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN) with a fleet of five aircraft, has notably added two E195-E2s over the past year and specialises in seasonal charter services.

This operation by Hunnu Air stands as a prominent example of a growing global trend where airlines are deploying Embraer E2 jets on long-distance holiday routes, moving beyond their traditional role in regional flying.

The Embraer E2's Capabilities

The Embraer E2 family, comprising the E190-E2 and the larger E195-E2, is being utilised for these longer, thinner leisure routes. Embraer states the E195-E2 has a full-passenger range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,556 km). It can seat up to 146 passengers in high-density configurations, or 132 in a typical single-class layout with a 31-inch seat pitch.

The manufacturer also reports that the E195-E2 consumes 29% less fuel than its previous-generation E-Jet predecessor. Passengers benefit from a 2+2 cabin layout, eliminating middle seats. Embraer's first-quarter 2026 figures showed 504 firm orders, 213 deliveries, and a backlog of 291 aircraft for the E2 family.

Global Adoption of Extended E2 Routes

Other airlines on four continents are also using E195-E2s for extended missions. Canada's Porter Airlines has deployed E195-E2s on deep routes into Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean. By July 2026, Porter had received 54 of its 75 firm orders and planned over 40 warm-weather routes for its winter 2026/27 schedule, including flights up to six hours.

South Africa's Airlink is establishing long routes across the Indian Ocean with the type. TUI fly in Belgium operates the E195-E2 for flights exceeding five hours from Antwerp to Tenerife. Previously, Widerøe of Norway flew the smaller E190-E2 to the Canary Islands.

These applications demonstrate airlines are utilising the E2's range and capacity for routes that might not sustain larger aircraft like the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737.

Implications for Asian Leisure Travel

The successful deployment of Embraer E195-E2 jets by Hunnu Air for long-range leisure charters from Ulaanbaatar to Phu Quoc provides a compelling model for other Asian carriers and tourism stakeholders.

This strategic approach enables airlines to open direct routes to popular holiday destinations like Phu Quoc, which might not generate sufficient passenger volume to justify larger narrowbody aircraft.

Asian tourism boards and regional airports seeking to expand direct international connectivity should actively investigate the E195-E2's suitability for new routes, particularly those under 3,000 nautical miles, before the end of 2027. This proactive assessment could help capture emerging leisure demand and diversify travel offerings across the region.

Carriers like Hunnu Air demonstrate that smaller, more efficient aircraft can make previously unviable long-haul leisure markets accessible, potentially driving new tourist flows and economic benefits in various Asian destinations.