When Bombardier and Embraer ended mass production of their respective 50-seat jets by 2006, it appeared that the regional airline industry’s love affair with the little RJs had run its course. With most major airline scope clauses relaxed to allow 70- and even 76-seat jets in their regional partners’ fleets, demand for the less cost-effective 50-seaters had essentially evaporated.
Now, as capacity cuts and $120-a-barrel oil spare no sector of the industry, operators, leasing companies and manufacturers find themselves forced to “manage” a glut of 50-seat RJ inventory accumulated during the 1990s’ boom. Some of the most recent plans to cut small regional jet fleets involve ExpressJet, American Eagle and Republic Airways, all of which expect to ground ERJ 135s/145s this fall. In fact, Embraer next month expects to start taking delivery of 12 ERJ 135s from Republic as that Indianapolis-based airline grounds 15 of the 37-seat jets at the behest of code-share partner Delta Air Lines.
