Republic eyes future with fewer small RJs
Now that his company has joined the ranks of the major airlines with itshttp://http//www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/republic-seals-m

Now that his company has joined the ranks of the major airlines with its takeover of Frontier and Midwest Airlines, an admission by Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford of a “jaundiced view” of the small regional jet market might not come as a surprise. After all, the airline continues to cut its “exposure” to 50-seat aircraft, most notably due to the removal of 22 Bombardier CRJ200s from its Continental Connection system “as part of the normal contract process,” the planned removal of seven Embraer ERJ 145s from its United Airlines system by year-end and the final seven CRJ200s from the Continental program.

“We continue to manage our fixed-fee fleet to reduce our exposure to 50-seat aircraft,” said Bedford. “In 2010 more than 75 percent of our fixed-fee capacity in revenues will be derived from our [Embraer E-Jets].”