I would like to think that ovens and IFE would be in the offering as the market takes a turn downwards, the airlines are looking toward better product offerings rather than just cheap seats. they are still offering cheap seats but are now looking at adding IFE etc to ensure that what market share is available they get the maximum out of it.
Air NZ is just re-fitting the A320 & B767 fleets with IFE in the seat backs. I was surprised that they ordered the A320 without it?!?
As this technology gets lighter and lighter it maybe able to be used with out a major weight penalty.
The Atr 72 MTOW is 22800kgs that we fly and the Q400 is closer to 29t, for a difference of about 6-10seats.
Will be interesting to finally see what ATR offers as a 90seat turbo-prop concept. Also hear that Embraer are talking/planning a 90seat turbo-prop as well. So I would guess that the current fuel price issues may be the start of a very strong push toward turbo-prop flying.
Soon our fleet will be getting upgraded/replaced and the contenders were the ATR600, Q400 and ERJ190. The 600 and 400 were most likely with a view to the 90seat products ATR and DASH are looking at building, one a stretch of a old technology the other off a clean sheet with all new technology available.
My money would be on keeping the ATR!!
But wouldn't mind if they bought your turbo-prop keesje
