Originally Posted by
sailingfun
They could only operate them at the mainline if its on a cost competitive basis. We once again attempted to show that it could be done. We could not produce numbers even close. Thats the fallacy of the operate at the mainline concept. Unless you cost competitive you lose the flying completely and lose the existing mainline flying the feed generated.
This was a bit of a surprise to me since I felt we could be competitive on a 76 seater. It did not turn out to be the case. If it was the case then most managements would operate the aircraft at their mainline fleets. It would be a win win so to speak. Instead after looking at the numbers management teams fight almost to the death to keep the flying at lower cost providers. There is a reason.
Sailing,
Interesting topic - numbers close to what? Do any of these Regionals fly the RJs profitably without FFD? If essentially the DCI carriers are not actually operating profitably without being subsidized by mainline I don't see how an economic analysis would show anything other than it was not possible.
I agree that 76 seaters being flown at mainline probably cannot compete economically with 76 seaters being flown at a connection carrier.
But I also believe that a standalone RJ operator flying 76 seaters cannot compete economically with 76 seaters at DCI.
If this were not true - where are all the standalone RJ operators?
DCI carriers are operating at below a standalone profitability - if you take away mainline support. Comparing 76 seaters at mainline (without mainline subsidies) is not a valid comparison.
Scoop