Originally Posted by
ebl14
This may be a good thing in the long run. If all regionals transition to prop fleets some good things can happen.
1. Regionals will fly shorter routes.
2. Longer routes will be serviced by larger jets (mainline carriers).
3. More people will get jobs flying bigger jets.
4. The airlines can all be more profitable.
But why are they going to do that? Regionals fly what the major partners want them to fly, and pax like jets (even if they use more fuel).
Majors still want MORE 90 seaters, and probably 70 seaters. The SKW President reiterated today that there are NO plans to add new turboprops to the fleet.
There are several MAJOR projects to build NEW 70/90 seat RJ's with advanced technology materials, systems, and engines (geared-turbofans).... Mitsubishi, China, and Russia.
Nobody is designing all-new turboprops...the geared turbofan engine will probably close the efficiency gap with the turboprop engine to the point that the extra complexity, low altitude, and slowness of the turboprop is not worth it.