CRJ700 vs Q400
 

Hi all,

Does anybody have to hand the operating economics of a CRJ-700 vs Q400, looking at sector lengths of around 500nm, often to regional and remote ports.

Do the benefits of a jet really outweigh the operating economics of the prop?

Your thoughts are appreciated

Horizon (Portland, OR) has replaced the CRJ with the Q400 on a lot of routes.

Thanks Graybeard

But wasn't Horizon dropping CRJ200s for Q400s, rather than the larger CRJ700s? (I think a UK carrier did something similar, went all-Q - flyBE?)

I'm sure you're right, Mad Scientist. Horizon Q400 has also replaced the (sister co.) Alaska 737ng on routes to Reno, KRNO.

As an aside, I caught an airliner departing KRNO on maps.google.com .

search: 5425 Louie Ln, Reno NV

hit "Satellite View" in upper right corner of map.

Zoom in all the way.

It's an Alaska 737-900, which hasn't been on that route in a few years. Those can be old satellite views. There's no shadow under it, as it's not as close to the ground as it appears.

GB

Horizon never operated the CRJ-200.

Alaska took the CRJ-700's from Horizon and gave them to Skywest so Horizon could be a single-fleet. (And so Skywest could be used as a whipsaw and contract weapon.)

Apologies, I think I must have got Skywest mixed up with Horizon. or was just wrong. That's always an option.

...but then the Q400 isn't any old prop.

350-360kts true if pushed (up to 1,200kg/h) and if you are not in a hurry 300-310kts true and 900-950kg/h fuel at FL25 cruise.

But noisier and rattly if the NVH and prop balancing isn't kept on top of, but roomy and light in the cabin and good for thin and low yield routes.

Nasty bit of s**t from the pointy end though.....