Regional jets “dead as a dodoâ€
EVERGREEN: A study released last week by an aviation consulting firm finds that surging fuel prices have left many of the world’s airliners “economically obsolete” because they are simply too expensive to operate.
Associated Press reports that most at risk are smaller regional jets, especially those with fewer than 50 seats, that are used to connect smaller airports to larger hubs, according to the aircraft fleet forecast by The Boyd Group in Evergreen, Colo.
More than half of the existing regional jets in service in the U.S. — more than 900 aircraft — will be retired over the next five to 10 years, the report said. Many won’t be replaced.
For travellers, that could mean less-frequent service, fewer travel options and more time spent waiting at airports for connecting flights.
“The regional jet era is dead as a dodo,” said long-time industry observer Mike Boyd, who heads the consultancy. “In most cases, a lot of the flying … is going to go away.”
Airline executives have been exploring acquisitions, additional capacity cutbacks and other initiatives to restructure the U.S. airline market in response to rising fuel costs, which now account for many carriers’ biggest expense.
But the report warns that “mergers won’t change the fact that existing fleets are incompatible with $110 oil prices”.
Ian Jarrett
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