Originally Posted by
Icarus2001
I would go one step further and stay E190 or E195 would be the best fit.
The issue with this is CASM starts to creep which makes the whole low cost high volume game, void. This is where the MAX and NEO efficiencies really come into play, the key being they burn less fuel vs the E190, and carry a significantly better CASM. However, you need the passenger volume to make that work.
If you are a low cost outfit, and you are at your passenger number ceiling on specific routes, with an aircraft too big, the only options are to cancel the route or close the whole place down, a smaller jet isn’t going to solve the issues with the inability to push pricing up as a budget player, your overheads are not exactly falling off a cliff when you downsize to something smaller, especially Embraer.
MAX and NEO are profit machines when full.