Originally Posted by pete2800

This is incorrect. It would be correct if regional airlines still only served small communities.

In other words, all small towns are served by regional airlines, but not all regional airline service is between small towns. How many RJ-700's and -900's do 2.5 hour or greater flights? I work for a turboprop operator who does happen to do mostly short flights, but the "regional" nature of RJ's has long since been outgrown.

ORD-ABQ is served by SKW on a 700. What "region" is that? North America? Those are the two largest cities in their respective states. RAH does this one in an E175.
Buy a ticket on Delta for ATL-YYZ? RJ-700.
EWR-OKC on an E145...
ORD-MIA on a 700.
PIT-DEN.... E145.
IAD-IAH.... E145.
ATL-EWR.... E145.
YYZ-IAH.... E145.


These are all major cities, and these are all long flights. If the regionals can't stay on top of their staffing, the Legacy carriers have two options:
- Cut capacity across the board, not just between small towns.
- Add mainline flights in order to maintain capacity. Not grow, just maintain.

There are even short flights between major cities that should go to mainline. SEA-GEG, PHX-ABQ... Sure, a Q400 usually goes between Seattle and Spokane, but Alaska has a 737 do it three times a day. If Southwest can do PHX-ABQ in a Boeing, so can everyone else.