Most of the EMB 120s manufactured were sold in the United States and other destinations in the Western Hemisphere. Some European airlines such as Régional in France, Atlant-Soyuz Airlines in Russia, DAT in Belgium, and DLT in Germany also purchased EMB-120s. Serial production ended in 2001.

As of 2007, it is still available for one-off orders, as it shares much of the production equipment with the ERJ-145 family, which is still produced. The Angolan Air Force, for example, received a new EMB 120 in 2007.

SkyWest Airlines operates the largest fleet of EMB 120s under the United Express and Delta Connection brand. Great Lakes Airlines operates six EMB 120s in its fleet, and Ameriflight flies eight as freighters.

General characteristics
Crew: Two pilots and one flight attendant
Capacity: 30 passengers
Length: 20.00 m (65 ft 7½ in)
Wingspan: 19.78 m (64 ft 10¾ in)
Height: 6.35 m (20 ft 10 in)
Wing area: 39.4 m² (424 ft²)
Airfoil: NACA 23018 (modified) at root, NACA 23012 at tip
Aspect ratio: 9.9:1
Empty weight: 7,070 kg (15,586 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 11,500 kg (25,353 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118/118A/118B turboprops, 1,340 kW (1,800 shp) each
Maximum Landing Weight: 11,250 kg (24,802 lb)

Performance
Maximum speed: 608 km/h (328 knots, 378 mph) at 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
Cruise speed: 552 km/h (298 knots, 343 mph)
Stall speed: 162 km/h (87 knots, 100 mph) (CAS),(flaps down)
Range: 1,750 km (945 nmi, 1,088 mi) (30 passengers, reserves for 100 nmi divert and 45 min hold)
Service ceiling: 9,085 m (29,800 ft)
Take-off Run: 1,420 m (4,660 ft) minimum

Avionics
Collins 5-screen Electronic Flight Instrument System
Dual autopilots