Characteristics of Regional Airlines
- Regional air taxi airline (carriers) fly and operate a fleet of aircraft with up to 9 passenger seats[2], and may or may not operate with its own airline brand or identity. Most usually aircraft are routed via the point-to-point on-demand or limited schedule transit models of aircraft routing.[3]
- Regional commuter airline (carriers) fly and operate with their own ICAO or IATA codes, their own call sign, with a fleet of aircraft with 9-19 passenger seats, no flight attendant, non-stand up cabins, and function with or without an individual identity and brand, even though an individually operating certificated regional airline company. In many instances, the regional commuter airline may be owed by a conglomerate airline holding company, or may be a completely independent and individually owned regional commuter airline company. Most usually aircraft are routed via the point-to-point transit models of aircraft routing.[4]
- Regional feeder-airline (carriers) fly and operate with their own ICAO or IATA codes, their own call sign, and fly and operate aircraft with 9-99 passenger seats, without an individual identity or brand, even though an individually operating certificated regional feeder airline company. In many instances, the regional feeder airline may be owed by a conglomerate airline holding company, or may be a completely independent and individually owned regional feeder airline company. Most usually aircraft are routed via the hub-and-spoke model of aircraft routing.[5]
- Regional airline carriers are federally operating certificated airlines which operate their own fleet of aircraft with their own brand, ICAO or IATA code, and their own call sign, upon a fleet of aircraft with 9-99 seats and always include at least one fleet of aircraft which requires a flight attendant. Typically aircraft are routed upon both the hub-and-spoke and the point-to-point transit models of aircraft routing.[6]
- Airline carriers operate their own fleet of aircraft with their own brand and identity, ICAO or IATA code, and their own call sign. Federally operating certificated regional airlines[7] are considered airlines.
- Major airline carriers operate their own fleet of aircraft with their own brand and identity, ICAO or IATA code, their own call sign, and operate at least one fleet of aircraft with more than 99 passengers upon their federal operating certificate. Major airlines have revenues greater than $1 billion[8] U.S. dollars in revenue during a fiscal year. Regional airlines are never considered major airlines although in many instances, the regional airline may be owed by a conglomerate airline holding company, and have revenues greater than $1 billion U.S. dollars in revenue during a fiscal year.[9][[10]