Regardless of any political opinion, I think the real issue at hand is efficiency. And nothing beat a Turboprop on short or thin routes. Fuel prices might be low now, but I would bet that will not remain so in the medium or longer term, especially when demand picks back up.

I see the 50 seater jet as a fad that lasted too long and the Legacies allowed them to stick around more for PR reason. The real question is can the Legacy continue to subsidize their operation when the industry contracts as it so often does. In see Embraer’s announcement that a shift in philosophy is taking place.