OAG Travel News

It’s no surprise to many frequent fliers that smaller aircraft have become more popular over the past decade.  Regional jet has become a household phrase for airport aficionados and – love them or hate them – they are here to stay.  So, this week I thought I would take a broad look at the use of regional jet aircraft in the global aviation system.

Definition
The definition of a regional jet varies, so for this analysis I will rely on OAG’s definition.  OAG categorizes regional jets as short range aircraft which includes six types of aircraft manufactured by five companies.  These jets range in size from 37 to 122 seats and the ones with the longest range capabilities can travel distances of just over 2,000 miles (3,219 kilometers).

Regional Presence of Regional Jets
Although regional jet flights operate on every continent, nearly 85 percent of all regional jet operations are concentrated in two areas of the world – the United States, with 63 percent of the world’s total regional jet operations, followed by Europe, with 20 percent.  These figures should not be surprising.  The USA is the world’s largest aviation market, and with limited rail and long distances between cities, air service is necessary for a majority of domestic travel.  Australia and the Caribbean have the least number of regional jet flights.

Growth of Regional Jet Operations
Flight operations on regional jets have increased 25 percent over the past five years.  Although the USA has the most regional jet flights of any other country, the USA experienced the least amount of growth in such flights over the past five years (in percentage terms).  The highest growth rates were in the Middle East, Africa and Central America.  Air service competition has increased in these regions of the world over the past five years, and regional jets allow airlines to maximize the potential of their networks by fitting the right planes with the right routes.  Five years ago, there were 101 operators of regional jets; today, this number is up to 150 – and still growing.
 
Size Matters
Over the past five years, regional jets have gotten bigger.
-    In 2004, 63 percent of regional jet flights were on 50-seat aircraft
-    By 2009, slightly over 50 percent of the flights were on 50-seat aircraft
-    Although still representing a small percentage in terms of overall operations, regional jets with over 100 seats more than doubled over this time period

The Short and the Long of Regional Jet Flights
-    The shortest regional jet flight is operated by Brit Air for Air France from Morlaix to Landivisiau, France; the 15-mile journey is operated on a 50-seat Canadair Regional Jet
-    As for the longest regional jet operations, three flights are over 2,000 miles (3,219 kilometers) in length:
-    Toronto, Canada, to Seattle, Washington (2,052 miles/3,302 kilometers): Air Canada operates this service once per day on its 93-seat Embraer 90 aircraft; flight time is slightly over five hours
-    Tel Aviv, Israel, to Paris, France (2,041 miles/3,284 kilometers): Arkia Israeli Airlines operates this service just once in the month of June using a 122-seat Embraer 95 aircraft; flight time is nearly five hours
-    Calgary, Canada, to New York/Newark (2,016 miles/3,244 kilometers): Air Canada operates this daily flight with its 93-seat Embraer 90 aircraft; flight time is over four hours

The Tail End
There are more than 457,000 regional jet operations scheduled for the month of June 2009; this translates into over 15,000 every day.  These flights link cities small and large in all corners of our world, and without them, many communities would not benefit from air service. 
 

Source: Official Airline Guide (OAG) Schedule Tapes for June 2009, unless otherwise noted; comparison period was the month of June 2004; mileage measured by Great Circle Distance as provided in OAG database; regional jets defined as all short range jets in OAG database; operators may not include published carriers.

Original article by Laura Jackson