Besides Horizon, there are no more Q400 operators in the U.S. Why is this? Isn't the plane relatively new and efficient. It's not even a 50 seater.

1. Passengers don't like props (or airline management thinks passengers don't like props).

2. Fuel is "cheap" right now, so the operating cost savings isn't that great.

3. The Q400 costs a lot. They go for $25-30 million. A CRJ-700 and an E170 go for $30-40 million.

4. The Q-400 does best on short segment routes (less than 500 miles). On longer routes, the speed advantage of jets makes them a better option.

$10 million less per plane sounds like a clear advantage, but when you consider that the Q400 is only good on shorter flights, the greater amount of route options the CRJ-700 and E170 can do makes them worth the extra money. Regionals of today need to operate on a large economy of scale. Contracts are short term and they need fleets that can cover everything from a 40-minute flight to a 3.5-hour flight. The Q400 may do great on the EWR to BOS route, but in 2 years, that contract might get canceled and that airline would then have to try to shift the Q400 on an EWR to RDU route where a jet would be better suited.

Also, consider that there are still many 50 seat jets that have life left in them. If your airline has a fleet of 50 seat jets already, it would cost you a lot to get a fleet of Q-400s and that would limit you to short segment flights. If you had to spend money on a new fleet, you might as well get a jet that would allow you to fly longer segment flights that make more profit.

It is a cool plane to fly though.

ATR-72-600 crushes the Q in operating economics.

On <400nm segments, it is a license to print money.

Alas...props.

Because regional airlines aren't regional.

Q400 is 20 year old technology. I mean it ain't and E-175, that is for sure.

Then what are Delta and American's MD-80s?

Paid off...

Bottom line...

Pax don't like props.

Fuel efficiency is not that big of an issue right now.

Props are limited to short stage lengths, otherwise they become LESS efficient than a jet on longer legs as operating time costs and crew costs add up.

Expectation is that next gen airliners, with advanced engines and airframe technology will be more efficient than props anyway.

If it dries out, the keyboard will work, right?

Almost 20 years ago, I talked to the EMB145 fleet manager at American Eagle. They were all ready to pull the trigger on the Saab 2000.

He said they couldn't do it, even though it was a great airplane, due the perception of the traveling public.

He said Comair CRJs had changed the landscape for everyone.