Density vs. fuel price
Letī s have a look at it this way:
Suppose we have a high-volume shorthaul route. Why not use turboprops there?
If a route is capable of supporting 1 150-seat B737 or A319 narrowbody jet having n flights in a day, the same passenger volume might alternatively be transported with 2n 75-seat ATR-72 turboprop flights, which because of longer legs and slower rotation would require 3 or 4 airframes and cockpit crews.
Would those 2n flights burn significantly less fuel than the n B737 or A319 flights do?
And would the difference in fuel prices compensate for the pay of extra crews, and perhaps maintenance and capitalization of the larger number of airframes?
Bombardier is said to be trying to stretch Dash-8. Would there be a market for a new-design 100...150 seat turboprop?