Oz doesn't have the population or the route structure to warrant 70 seat jet routes(Airnorth excluded) I think jets the size of the E190 and B717 will be the smallest RPT operating equipment we see in this country. Especially with capacity restraints becoming more of an issue at major airports. The only way forward is for larger aircraft to move the forecast growth of pax numbers as there are no slots available during peak times now.
interesting considering alliance have just bought f70's and air north the e170...
What about the bae146? F100? These aircraft are operating from regional ports bypassing the backlog of the major hubs...
Mind you if your talking leisure and business travellers... Then yeah I would agree. Mining and government etc. Then no... The smaller jets still have a place!
Network?