50 seat economics depend on several things...

- Lower labor cost.
- Value of frequency to the consumers.
- Reasonable fuel costs

In the current environment, labor cost is low, fuel is not too bad, and pax value good frequency.

These are things which could screw up that equation in the future...

- Significant increase in regional labor costs...fat chance, although inceasing longevity due to no growth/movement will make a dent.

- Increasing fuel costs...this could make it more economical to run larger planes with less frequency. Pax will pay for frequency, but only up to a point.

- Congestion...slot limitations would force a shift to larger airframes. This WILL happen eventually, just a question of how long.


For right now, 50 seaters still work, and as long as people have leases to cover they will keep operating them. If the lease is payed off and you can make a little profit, might as well keep operating them too.