Originally Posted by
pangolin
Eventually this will break one way or the other. Either regional lift will get a weight increase or it'll all be brought into mainline. The Embraer E2 aircraft are just too attractive from a fuel efficiency standpoint. Once fuel prices increase again (and they will) or carbon footprints become even more important (and they will) and demand increases (and it will), something will have to give one way or the other. I make no bets on which way the domino falls, except to say it WILL fall.
The new emphasis of the carbon footprint definitely adds an interesting factor to the equation. Cost is still king, but if they can get some environmental PR at the same time, that is the path that they’ll take. The carbon footprint issue could also be another nail in the coffin for the 50 seaters. I don’t see the legacies relaxing scope, so where we go from here is anyone’s guess. Do the aircraft manufacturers come up with an efficient plane that meets the weight limits, or does the industry shift towards larger more efficient aircraft operated at the legacies? Time to watch another swing of the pendulum.