Originally Posted by
Fat Clemenza
Yeah that's a good question
Here's the answer: If a Q400 uses 1200kg/h than two of them use 2400, which is about the FF of a A320. With the same seat pitch you can load 180 pax on an Airbus/737.
Price of a Dash might be above 20M$, so it's also more capital consuming than a narrow body jet. Because of the sheer volume Airbus/Boeing are producing, they can offer at any price with lower maintenance cost.
If a 150 turboprop would consume less is another question. It leads to the old unducted fan projects (performed by McDo and Embraer), but mechanical problems never got solved. Also the Saab 2000 was an excellent solution, but got killed by the low fuel price then. Remember that Embraer 145's first design was also a turboprop. btw I think that Embraers bigger RJs make still good results and are sold very well. Mainly in the 190/195 size, where they will be slowly replacing F100s, old generation 737 and A318/319.
Dani