Capacity isn't the determining factor when you consider an aircrafts BEP. It's all about the yield. You can put 1 person on the airplane if they're willing to pay for it.

We fly SBA - SJC - SBA and with the yield we pull the E120 BPE is 5 passengers each way. On average our BPE using our average customer yield is around 12 passengers. Based upon Bombardier’s Q400 fuel cost per seat per hour theQ400 burns almost as must in fuel alone as the E120’s total cost per seat per hour (E120 = $36 per seat per hour).

The Q400 is not a replacement for an E120 type a/c. Yes the E120 may be weight restricted in DEN to 20 passengers but it’s still turning a very handsome profit. Otherwise why did SKW cancel all the E120 retirements and slowly start placing them back in DEN (as well as several others) on at-risk routes?

Q400.COM - Turbo Profits

The Q400 is a great airplane but again it’s not a replacement for an E120 type a/c. If it was then QX would still be flying small markets like OTH, LMT and MWH with the Q4. Now SKW is operating them at-risk with the E120 and doing very well. As a matter of fact OTH has proven to be a very solid money maker for us.

note: Numbers based upon $60 oil.