Aircraft
Market for 50-seat jets spirals into a tailspin
Industry developments have conspired to depress the 50-seat jet market to its weakest position since the late 1990s.

Industry developments have conspired to depress the 50-seat jet market to its weakest position since the late 1990s. Backlogs have shrunk to their lowest levels in years, and the latest deal struck by Independence Air to return another 24 CRJs to their lessors hasn’t helped matters. Although the move hasn’t exactly crippled the market–not a huge number of used 50-seaters sits idle–it certainly didn’t raise hopes that they might soon find a use outside their traditional niche, and perhaps regain some sales momentum.