In a month, Frontier will have withdrawn the remaining Bombardier Q400 aircraft from the Lynx fleet and I continue to think that my have been a mistake.

Lynx routes will be operated by Republic Airlines E170 jet aircraft.  I get that “pure jets” remain somewhat attractive but I think the Q400 will have been shown to have earned more profit on those same routes.  I get that Republic needed to find a use for some of their aircraft, too, but I continue to believe that retaining the Q400 would have proven profitable.

Yes, I’m repeating myself.  It was a small fleet but a fleet that fit extremely well.  In addition, the Lynx outfit was one of the things that really caught Southwest Airlines’ eyes during bidding this time last year.  If you’re catching SWA’s eyes, you *must* have something going for you. 

It’s interesting to me that despite the emphasis on finding lower costs, so many airlines continue to ignore the turbo-prop.  Yes, Continental has it for its regional flights on a large(ish) scale but that’s about it if you ignore Horizon Airlines. 

The fact that Alaska/Horizon Airlines is making pretty good money from them and on segments that, frankly, are a bit long for the Q400, should be signaling something to other airlines.  But those airlines remain tone deaf and I think that’s a shame. 

I look at the flights that American Eagle flies regionally from DFW and it makes me cringe to see those old ERJ-140 aircraft going to Texas and Oklahoma and Lousiana destinations that could be served so much more efficiently with a Q400 or ATR-72.  The same is true for the Chicago area. 

I honestly believe that the airlines are the only ones afraid of these aircraft, not the customers.  Imagine how much more competive one might be using them, however.  Low fares are the key, not a jet engine.

Filed under: Airline Fleets, Airline Service by ajax