The seats are bigger, and there s more space to stow your carry-on luggage. The likelihood that you ll fly on an RJ on your next short flight is increasing. Currently, there are some 560 RJs in operation, with double that number expected to be added by 2003. RJ demand is expected to remain strong for many more years. In fact, German RJ manufacturer Fairchild Dornier forecasts that between now and 2020, nearly 8,000 RJs, seating between 25 and 110 passengers, will take to the skies.
Passengers aren t the only ones loving RJs.
Airlines love them for their efficiency and ability to open up new, untapped markets that couldn t be flown by using turboprops. Because RJs are highly reliable and efficient, they are more likely to be operated in longer-distance markets that airlines markets where airlines aren t making a profit with their larger and more expensive jets. The use of RJs enables the airlines to lower costs per seat mile and to keep a brand identity on those routes once flown by the big jets. All this has lead to substantial profits for airlines. So Happy The gain in profits has airlines salivating at the opportunity to buy more of the RJs.