Originally Posted by
Nantonaku
None of us know how useful all those airplanes are to the companies that operate them. Obviously at one time they served a purpose and there is a reason they are still flying. That lift can't just disappear overnight. There is still a market for small jets, if there wasn't they wouldn't be flying. There are still some highly profitable routes being flown by 50 seaters.
Taking your argument to the extreme, why don't the airlines just fly two 777's from JFK to LAX a day? They can get rid of all the smaller airplanes and cut costs. They can also just fly one 747 a week from Toronto to Detroit and be done with all regional jets on that route and many routes just like it.
You are right. If you re-read the original post we do not disagree. That's why I never suggested they would ALL disappear, and certainly not "overnight". I said they would scale back and over many years. I think that is very apparent.
Also, any argument taken to the extreme falls apart. That's why I did not take mine to the extreme but merely suggested that mainline does not need nearly the amount of small regional planes flying around that they currently have. Again, if you read the original post again you will see my point.