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09-17-2012, 10:56 AM

#8

MatchPoint

Rollin'

Joined APC: Sep 2008

Position: AA Airbus

Posts: 829

Quote:

Originally Posted by squaretail

Makes sense... 50 seat profit/cost being so slim. In times when furlough clauses mean next to nothing, scope is one of the few means of increasing job security and protection. Given the number of furloughs that United has currently and the fact that they have increased their regional feed at the same time --( if I were there and voting)-- I wouldn't vote for a JCBA that didn't produce massive RJ cuts.

The fact is the regional jet industry doesn't make sense when you break it down.

The CR7/9s and E170/175's aren’t that much more efficient than the 50’s and their still much less efficient when compared to all mainline jets. The difference is there are more seats and a dozen or so premium seats to pull the small margins off of. They also allow for increased capacity without increasing flights.

Just examples and you can break them down more if you like. The CR2 burns about 2500 lbs. /hr. at cruise which is about 50lbs/hr./seat. The CR9 burns about 3700 lbs./hr. which is about 48.68 lbs./hr./seat. That’s not much better than the 50. From my jumpseating on AirTran’s 73’s I’ve noticed average burns of around 5000 lbs./hr. at cruise which is about 36.5 lbs./hr./seat. On Delta’s 73-8s I seen burns around 6000 lbs./hr. which is about 37.5 lbs./hr./seat. I don’t have it on me but I know Delta plotted their CASMs for all mainline and all regional jets. Every regional jet had a higher CASM and any mainline jet (DC9 included).

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