There may be some of the latest arriving ERJs still flying in another 10 years, but the reality is the oldest are now getting pretty old. Our oldest E145 has just gone through its 6th heavy C-check. I have heard Embraer has not yet even written the maintenance procedure for the C-7 check. Eventually it gets too expensive to keep the old birds going. At least that's what we hear from some of our guys who do this stuff in SHV.

My guess is the main body of the new fleet will be CRJ-700s. SKW will work out some deal with Calnited to allow 70 seaters to replace XJT 50 seaters. You watch, SOMETHING will be negotiated with the new United to allow it. I am not saying they will "cave" on scope, but they will make a deal that protects mainline pilots somehow while allowing new airplanes to be delivered to SKW. Either a flow-through or a furlough-hire with seniority and pay deal for mainline pilots or something. SKW isn't going to get 70% of United's RJ contracts without a deal that everyone can live with somehow.