regionaljet

Regional jet is a category of small airliners designed for short- to medium-range routes. They typically seat about 50 to 100 passengers and are used by regional airlines or as feeders for major carriers. Capacity and range vary by model, but most regional jets fly roughly 1,500 to 2,500 nautical miles and operate with two-person crews. Their smaller size allows higher-frequency service and access to airports that larger jets cannot serve.

Regional jets emerged in the late 20th century to replace smaller turboprops on busier regional routes. They offer higher speeds and more comfortable cabins at lower seat counts than mainline jets, enabling hub and spoke networks to connect smaller cities with larger markets while maintaining economical per-seat costs.

Major programs and manufacturers have defined the category. Bombardier’s CRJ series and Embraer’s ERJ and E-Jet families formed the core for decades. The newer generation includes Embraer’s E-Jets E2 and Bombardier derivatives aimed at further efficiency gains. Other programs have sought a foothold in the market, such as Sukhoi’s SSJ100 and Mitsubishi’s MRJ SpaceJet; the SpaceJet program was terminated in 2020 after extended delays.

Operation and market dynamics: Regional jets are commonly operated by regional subsidiaries of major airlines or by independent carriers on shorter routes. They function as feeders to larger hubs while also enabling point-to-point service on specific routes. Fleet decisions balance fuel efficiency, pilot availability, maintenance costs, and airport infrastructure, with turboprops remaining a competitor on some very short or low-demand routes.