MAXs can absolutely do this job if these airframes are woven into the overall network. That would take fewer airframes overall (the current 717 fleet is 17), so let's say the flying could be done with maybe 10 airframes. You can weave 10 737s through the islands and have them enter and exit where they aren't dedicated to the island, and shorten the life of these MAX engines. There are no non NEO/MAX engined aircraft being made, so this is going to be something to live with unless the company gets another aircraft type like a 175 or a Q400, and I don't see that happening. For one, Embraer is all cycle limited, so that puts more of a handicap on aircraft than a MAX engine would, and the Q, I just don't see happening.

It’s too bad Embraer cancelled their turboprop project. A combination of mainline narrow bodies and turbo props could keep a good amount of frequency while not dumping too much capacity into the system.

Yea, even more ironic is that the Q would be a FANTASTIC inter-island bird, and we got rid of them all lol. A 76 seat turboprop would be great for the islands.

q can’t fit much cargo pit could barley fit a full boat worth of bags during non ski season, during ski season we were stuffing bags in the cabin to fit all the skis, great for quick turns and frequency but won’t be able to move any cargo, can barley fit 76 people’s worth of bags.

over head bins are too small so basically anything that’s not a small suit case or back back has to go in the pit
flew the Q for 5 years that’s why the Q base in ANC failed could not fit all the pax checked bags in Alaska and 0 cargo can be shipped on them. No belly stowage small Pit by the tail

I don’t think it would do well with interisland due to my assuming we also make money on shipping cargo between the islands

Does the 717 hold a lot of cargo? I honestly don't know.

More than an RJ. RJ's (and commuter props) basically just have capacity for some pax checked bags.

Start adding sandbags for CG and some RJs end up leaving checked bags behind. Or pax, if the airline prefers that (some do).

Apparently longboards are important too.

Island Air failed for a bunch of reasons, but one of them was switching to the Q (and then back to the ATR when it didn't work).

Surfboards and golf clubs are very important, and they don’t fit in an RJ or a turbo prop.

This! Even if you used the correct turboprop, they don’t have the cargo capacity, and there isn’t the gate space for the increased number of aircraft required to replace the 717’s.

Aloha stopped flying Ng’s interisland, and ended up only using them on mainland routes because of engine issues.

At least it sounds like Minnicucci understands the engine issue.