The Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia freighter is a fast regional turboprop working short Los Angeles cargo sectors. Pressurized, quick and efficient on the runs that do not justify a jet freighter.
Embraer built the EMB-120 Brasilia as a 30-seat pressurized regional airliner, and freighter conversions are widespread. Two Pratt and Whitney PW118 turboprops, a cruise around 300 knots and roughly 900 nautical miles of range in the cargo role.
Performance and Cabin
- Category: Cargo Aircraft
- Manufacturer: Embraer
- Year introduced: 1985
- Seating: Crew only (cargo)
- Crew: 2
- Range: 945 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 300 knots
- Service ceiling: 32,000 feet
- Length: 65.6 feet
- Wingspan: 64.9 feet
- Height: 20.8 feet
- Baggage volume: 1,200 cubic feet
- Lavatory: Crew only
Why the Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia Fits Los Angeles
At around 300 knots it is the fastest turboprop freighter on this site, which on a Los Angeles to Bay Area or Los Angeles to Phoenix overnight run compresses the schedule usefully.
Capacity is modest. This is an aircraft for the load that is too big for a light twin and nowhere near filling a 737 freighter, which is a genuinely common size in Southern California’s parts and perishables traffic.
Ontario’s 24-hour operation with no curfew is what makes an overnight regional freight schedule work out of the Los Angeles basin at all.
Gallery
Vetting Behind Every Trip
Every operator, aircraft, and crew goes through our internal due diligence before we present any options. Our internal standards meet or exceed what the FAA requires:
- FAR Part 135 charter operators for traditional private aircraft, or FAR Part 121 for airliner-size and group trips (or the foreign equivalent on international legs)
- Operator subscription to Wyvern and ARGUS reviewed where the operator participates; reports may be provided on request.
- Pilot experience and operator incident history reviewed before we recommend an aircraft.
- Fewer than 60 brokers worldwide hold Premium Wyvern Broker Member status, and Air Charter Advisors is one of them.
Charter Pricing Reference
Industry hourly rates for the Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia run $2,000 to $3,000 per hour as of 7/2026. Actual quotes vary by operator, routing, positioning, and date.
The EMB-120 quotes at the bottom of the freighter band alongside the Saab 340, and on short time-critical Los Angeles sectors it is normally the quickest of the cheap options.
Other Cargo Aircrafts Available
- ATR 72F
- Antonov An-124 Ruslan
- Boeing 737-400 Freighter
- Boeing 737-800BCF
- Boeing 747-400F
- Boeing 747-8F
The full cargo aircrafts category page lists every cargo aircraft we arrange for Los Angeles departures.
Contact
For a quote on a Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia charter in or out of Los Angeles, call +1 (888) 987-5387 or head to our contact page. For the vetting work behind every trip, see our safety page. To browse cross-category options for the same trip, visit the aircraft directory.
The hourly rates provided are estimates based on 2026 market data and are for informational purposes only. These figures are subject to change and do not constitute a final offer. Final pricing is dynamic and depends on real-time factors including, but not limited to, specific itinerary requirements, aircraft positioning (“ferry” fees), fuel price volatility, and current market availability. These estimates exclude all applicable taxes, de-icing, landing and handling fees, special event fees, international surcharges, overnight crew expenses, and premium catering. Please contact Air Charter Advisors directly for a firm, all-inclusive quote tailored to your specific travel needs.