Embraer has signed a Component Pool Program agreement with Portugália Airlines, returning the TAP Group regional operator's fleet of 19 E-Jets to OEM component support after what the carrier described as a brief experience with an alternative supplier.

The deal, announced on October 15, 2026, covers comprehensive component support for twelve E-190s and seven E-195s. The package spans more than 300 aircraft components across multiple E-Jet systems and includes advanced exchange services, repair and overhaul solutions.

Embraer said the program will "optimize aircraft availability as the airline expands its operations."

Why did Portugália leave its previous supplier?

The carrier did not name the alternative supplier or detail the reasons for the switch. Managing Director Mário Lobato de Faria framed the move as a return to a long-established relationship rather than a rupture with a rival.

"After some decades being served by Embraer through its Component Pool Program that we helped to set up during the launch of the Embraer ERJ145, it felt right to return to this Program that always served our needs and helped us grow," Lobato de Faria said. "More than the Program itself is the Embraer team behind it with whom we relate in a fantastic way."

He added: "A big thank to Embraer for the flexibility and true partnership during this transition process accommodating all our requirements."

What does the agreement change for the operator?

For Portugália, the agreement shifts component provisioning, exchange logistics, repair and overhaul back under Embraer's pooled inventory model (a system in which an OEM holds shared stock and supplies parts on demand, charging operators per use rather than requiring them to own inventory). The stated aim is higher aircraft availability as the airline grows its schedule.

For Embraer, the contract restores a founding customer to its aftermarket fold. Portugália was one of the first airlines to integrate the ERJ145 into its fleet in the late 1990s and participated in shaping the pool program at its launch.

"We are proud to further strengthen our long-standing partnership with Portugália Airlines through this Component Pool Program agreement," Carlos Naufel, President and CEO of Embraer Services and Support, said. "Their continued confidence in our solutions is a testament to the value it delivers to operators worldwide."

Where does the fleet operate?

Portugália operates under the TAP Express brand and flies around 25% of TAP Group flights. Its network concentrates on Europe — Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, the UK and Ireland — plus Morocco in North Africa. The carrier works as an ACMI operator (a model in which an airline provides aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) exclusively for TAP Air Portugal.

The switch takes effect as TAP Group undergoes broader ownership change, with Lufthansa moving to acquire a minority stake in TAP Air Portugal after outbidding Air France-KLM. Component support stability at the regional arm will matter to the group's capacity planning as that consolidation proceeds.