Originally Posted by
rickair7777
T-props also carry no cargo, but they cover less distance in an hour than an RJ so they have less revenue generating potential assuming the same seat count. This is somewhat offset by higher fares which small-town pax are usually charged.
In a perfect world, this would be a true statement. However, it depends on where you are operating those aircraft.
When I commuted from IAD to LGA 7 years ago, the RJ would take anywhere between 80-90 minutes. The USAir Express -8 could do it in just a tad over an hour. The simple reason being it stayed low, never had to get sequenced in with the saturated jet traffic, and basically got to go from point A to point B unrestricted.
More along the lines of the original question. When th RJ's started coming on line, most turbo props were the relatively low capacity, slow, relatively archaic type. The RJ was seen as more akin to "mainline" flying, as well as being faster, more complex, sophisticated, blah blah blah. Doesn't make it right, doesn't mean I agree with it. Because we all know the guy flying the 1900/J31/SAAB or whatever in most cases is working MORE/HARDER than the guy in the RJ.
The problem now is that turbo props STILL have that stigma, even though we know better. The SAAB2000 (if it was operated), Dornier 328 prop (if it was still around), and Q400 all prove this whole thing wrong.