Originally Posted by
Pantera
I agree it might be hard to make money with a 50 seater. Delta says they can't make money with the regionals and want to do more mainline flying. So on my deadhead out of LGA on the MD-88 on my last trip I sat in the back by myself and let the other 29 passengers have the front all to themselves. It was great no screamin kids etc. But why send out an MD-88 with 30 people on it? I guess I don't see the big picture.
One of my favorite restaurants gives out free peanuts. It must be hard to make money giving away free peanuts.
Then again, the folks that load up on the (free) salty peanuts tend to order more (expensive) drinks. So the 50s are Delta's "free peanuts". It's hard to add profitable international routes if the people gotta drive to JFK or ATL to catch that overseas Delta flight.
Of course that doesn't stop them from telling you how worthless you are in the "big picture"