Cost per seat mile
It all comes down cost per seat mile... on a 90 seat turboprop that has nearly the same time on a sector averaged out as a pure jet. Just increase your frequency to pick up the slack.
if you do the maths... on the sectors we have... they're more economical than a pure jet.
Jets are pricey.
It's got nothing to do with customers preferring jets.
Its got nothing to do with what the competition fly.
Its got nothing to do with the type of kit we as pilots like to fly.
It's allllll about $$$$
And in the airline game, he who flies cheapest without pi&^ing off the customer... wins.