Originally Posted by
Turbosina
Yes, but upgauging three daily -200 flights to a certain outstation, to a single 737 flight to that same outstation...
...requires 2 mainline pilots, rather than the 6 regional pilots required to operate those 3 daily -200 flights.
It usually doesn't work that way. Airlines generally need three flights / day to absorb the overhead of station costs (maybe two flights on Tue & Sat).
Pax prefer frequency and most small-town pax are connecting. They are not going to take one daily flight to the hub at 0600 and then wait around for a connection at 1700. Frequency is one of the key reasons we have so many RJ's to begin with.
If the airlines can't make it work with RJ's (up to maybe 100 seats), then they'll just drop service to Podunk Falls (unless congress steps in with more EAS).