The few B717 that DL will be acquiring is not enough to put a dent to reduce regional airline flying. Also, I could be wrong, but DL will be leasing the B717. Its easy to make a boat load of money when you don't have to make lease payments.

Also, an argument can be made in regards the ONE flight you took, but I don't think it adds an relevance to the OP's original question. In trying to stick to the original question, my posts were meant to offer an outside view of the U.S. airline industry as I see it living as an expat.

The few?? Delta is acquiring 88 B717s. Combine that with the 50 MD90s acquired over the past few years and growth from 737-900ERs and there is plenty of lift to replace a size able amount of regional flying. As a matter of fact, once all the 50 seaters are gone, there will be fewer regional domestic seats available then mainline domestic seats.

Also, SWA is essentially paying DL to take the B717 off their hands. They were acquired for substantially less then the cost of a new CRJ900/EMB175. They'll be paid for in a short seven years.

You do realize that Delta is configuring the B717's with 12 LESS seats than the DC-9's?!

The -50 has 12 more seats than the 717 will have. The 717 is shorter than a -30

Your views are obviously biased to the negative because you want to justify your decision to leave the US.

Question for the smart responsible people:

If one can't get a job stateside to pay the bills because the only options are $22 an hour with the regionals, or one could go overseas and make a responsible income why would someone hate you for wanting to be responsible and support your family??????????????????????? This whole discussion about expats flying is flat out irritating.......How can you hate someone for wanting to be responsible and not live on unemployment? Seriously????? Maybe those that have issues with this should look in the mirror.......and I'll go a step further, I guess this is where we're going, to an industry of leaches that live off the government until that perfect job comes along rather than taking what we can get overseas.........this whole discussion makes me sick as an American.........normal, old school, American's do what they can to support their family through hard work....so here's a toast to those that decide to go overseas for a flying job because nothing is available stateside rather than living off the government.......I guess it's the generation that is arriving....the takers.......give me a fricken break.......

Yes. You two are correct. That was a mistake on my part. :o But I doubt the 12 extra seats makes up for the difference in fuel burn. :D

...................

Ugh. I loathed the -40 because they put those stinking -15s derated to -11s. I think that was the config. Man those things were pigs.

+1. This latest generation of pilots, with a few exceptions, is wrought with a HUGE entitlement attitude. If things aren't going their way they automatically blame capitalism, despise those of us who have EARNED wealth, and expect politicians and government to step in and give them what they think they deserve.