Originally Posted by
Baradium
The thing killing the 175-E2s is that they are too big for scope but mainline carriers don't want to open the box of aircraft of that size class back at mainline. I expect attempts to renegotiate weight limits for scope from management.
In the end, if they are the most cost-effective for a niche, SOMEONE will fly them in it, be that someone a regional without scope restrictions (Horizon), a mainline carrier (several already flying E-190s), or somebody who has a lot of money and thinks he/she can make more by being more efficient in that niche than anyone else (Amazon Prime Air, anyone? Get your reservations and purchase tickets with our handy online app. Amazon Prime members 5% off).
It's a capitalist world out there. If everybody sees a chance to make a buck, somebody is gonna take it.