Originally Posted by
Slim11
There are advantages and disadvantages the CRJ-200 and the EMB-145 have over each other. These advantages/disadvantages are based on my experiences in both airplanes.
A CRJ, more often than not, can carry a full load of passengers with an alternate filed when some models of the EMB-145 can't. The EMB-145 EP is especially bad. If an alternate is filed, 50 passengers isn't happening on that airplane.
The EMB-145s have a lower fuel burn over the CRJ-200 in most cases. They have a lower MGTW and also have engines with lower rated thrust.
From a passenger perspective, it's a toss-up. The CRJ does have 2-2 seating as opposed to 1-2 seating in the EMB. The CRJ has better overhead capacity with bins on both sides of the cabin. A big plus for the EMB is recirculation fans where the CRJ doesn't have any.
If I'm making fleet decisions for an airline, I take the CRJ-200 over the EMB-145 with fuel prices remaining where they are. The first consideration is getting passengers to their destination safely and both airplanes can do that. The CRJ-200 gets more passengers to the destination when scheduled than the 145s I have experience with.
When discussing the CRJ-700/900 vs. the EMB-170/175, I can't comment because I have no operational experience with the 170/175. I can see passengers preferring the 170/175 over the CRJ-700/900 due to the larger cabin.
The 170/175 is by far the superior passenger experience and from friends of mine that have flown both 900s and the 175, it's a comfortable pilots airplane too. The downside is it burns gas like it's going out of style so range suffers and it can't outclimb a 900 or out fly it as anything above .74 I'm told burns so much gas it'll leave you with nothing, where as the next gen 900 can cruise all day at .82 at FL410 and be just fine on fuel. What does the company want, pax comfort or cheap burn. That's what the two big RJ choices come down to.