Originally published in Jetstream Magazine by Hadi Ahmad.

On September 9, 2025, after nearly two decades of service, JetBlue Airways brought an end to an era with the retirement of its Embraer E190 fleet. The milestone was marked with a special farewell flight, JetBlue flight 190, a symbolic nod to the aircraft's model number. The aircraft departed from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), JetBlue's largest hub, and made its last landing at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), the carrier's second major base. Though the E190 no longer flies under the JetBlue banner, its legacy endures as a defining part of the carrier's growth and identity.

The Origins of the E190

The Embraer 190 was one of two initial variants in Embraer’s popular “E-Jet” family, launched at the 1999 Paris Air Show. It was designed as a stretched version of the E-Jet family’s base model, the Embraer 170. Compared to the 170, the Embraer 190 sported larger wings, larger horizontal stabilizers, more powerful engines, and more capacity.

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