Delta Air Lines just made a change that many frequent travelers will undoubtedly appreciate.
Over the weekend, the Atlanta-based carrier removed almost all of its last remaining routes operated by the Bombardier CRJ-200 regional jet, as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by a carrier spokesperson.
Specifically, Delta Connection partner SkyWest Airlines will stop flying the CRJ-200 for Delta between December 2023 and mid-March 2024.
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SkyWest is planning to fly just two CRJ-200 routes next spring — from Salt Lake City to Moab, Utah, and to West Yellowstone, Montana. Of course, it’s possible that Delta’s deployment strategy could change in the months leading up to the spring.
For Delta, retiring the CRJ-200 is a move that’s been in the works for a while. The airline previously planned for this 50-seat regional jet to exit the fleet by this summer, per an investor update shared last December from airline president Glen Hauenstein.
Delta has mostly stuck with this timeline. In April, the airline’s wholly-owned regional subsidiary Endeavor Air stopped flying the CRJ-200, and now SkyWest is the last remaining Delta Connection operator to fly this plane.
Some flyers have been counting down the days until the CRJ-200’s retirement party. After all, this small regional jet offers a lackluster passenger experience. It features just 50 seats in an all-coach configuration, of which just four seats are marketed as Comfort+ extra legroom.
Plus, the plane doesn’t feature much in the way of amenities. Other than a small lavatory at the back, you won’t find any Wi-Fi, power outlets or TV screens on these planes.
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Even the overhead bins are barely large enough for a backpack, and taller passengers need to mind their heads when walking up and down the aisle.
Admittedly, the CRJ-200s do typically fly smaller, more obscure routes, but nevertheless, the larger CRJ-700 and CRJ-900 aircraft that are replacing the CRJ-200 offer a much more comfortable onboard experience. They also feature a separate first-class cabin, giving Delta the ability to market three distinct cabin experiences (first class, Comfort+ and main cabin) in smaller markets.
Delta isn’t the only U.S. airline tinkering with its regional jet operations. United plans to phase out all 50-seat operations as part of its United Next growth strategy, which calls for larger narrow-body aircraft that feature first-class cabins on domestic routes.
Meanwhile, last year, American Airlines announced a tie-up with Air Wisconsin focused on providing regional connectivity from Chicago.
At launch, the Air Wisconsin partnership covers 10 short domestic routes from O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to nearby cities — all operated by the CRJ-200.
Before American inked this deal, it hadn’t flown the CRJ-200 since June 2020, Cirium schedules show.
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