Maybe with fuel prices looking like they're going to hit the moon, the Q400 really is the way to go for the regionals. Rumour from someone over at the Link, that when the Bombardier test pilots came over to analyse how the company were running their Q400's, they were asked what the break even point for a one hour sector was.
Answer? 12 pax!
Which means that to break even on the half-hour Canberra run you would only need 6 bums on your 72 seats!
There's no way a VLJ can match that in efficiency.
The difference in the current climate is in the ability to CREW your aircraft.
Whoever has all the pilots wins the game. QLink and REX cannot replace those leaving, let alone meet projected expansion targets. The opposition is having less difficulty attracting pilots from REX and QLink.
Aircraft efficiency is worthless if you have insufficient
experienced crew to operate them.
Particularly when they are leaving for your opposition....
6 bums on a 72 seater to break even on CB?
I believe in the tooth fairy.