HighFlyerMiami
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Continental issues RFP for 70-seat turboprop flying
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Flying Titan
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Kinda bold move here. While several other US carriers are scooping up E170s as fast as they can (US, UA, DL), CO goes for the contrarian move.
I've heard great things about the Q400 - near-jet speed, comfortable, quiet, very fuel efficient. I haven't heard anything about the ATR 72-500. Is it comparable to the Q400? Is anybody still flying the ATR 72 in the US? Unfortunately, I still think about the AE crash in Indiana when I hear ATR. Did they re-design the wing to deal with the icing issue?
If CO buys either of these aircraft, they will have to launch a marketing push to promote the positive features of these aircraft (roomy, quiet, possible 2-class service[?]) to overcome the anti-turboprop attitude that still exists. CO made point of hyping its express fleet when it went all-jet. It will have to make just as much noise about the wonders of its next-generation turbos for this move to work.
I've heard great things about the Q400 - near-jet speed, comfortable, quiet, very fuel efficient. I haven't heard anything about the ATR 72-500. Is it comparable to the Q400? Is anybody still flying the ATR 72 in the US? Unfortunately, I still think about the AE crash in Indiana when I hear ATR. Did they re-design the wing to deal with the icing issue?
If CO buys either of these aircraft, they will have to launch a marketing push to promote the positive features of these aircraft (roomy, quiet, possible 2-class service[?]) to overcome the anti-turboprop attitude that still exists. CO made point of hyping its express fleet when it went all-jet. It will have to make just as much noise about the wonders of its next-generation turbos for this move to work.
HighFlyerMiami
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American Eagle Airlines’ San, Juan, Puerto Rico-based unit, Executive Airlines flies ATR 72s into the Caribbean, but I don't think any US carriers are flying them mainland.
GroundedBoricua
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Yep, Eagle has them down here in SJU, and they are horrible. I find it weird that CO would want 70 seat props. EMB-170 hold 72 COMFORATBLY, and is fuel efficient. My vote goes to the 170. Maybe have a bug here or there but its a great airplane.
Flying Titan
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I can see why an airline would want to consider the Q400. Supposedly, the economics are so positive that mainline carriers could run these on many of their current 50-seat RJ routes and these would be profitable with fewer pax than the current RJ. Those kind of economic are hard to beat.
Still, I question how pax will receive this plane. Turbo-props have been given such a bad rep over the years - slow, noisy, uncomfortable, unreliable (cancellations), etc. Plus, airlines like CO have invested so much in convincing the public how great RJs are that anything with propellers is looked down on. This is the main challenge for the Q400.
Still, I question how pax will receive this plane. Turbo-props have been given such a bad rep over the years - slow, noisy, uncomfortable, unreliable (cancellations), etc. Plus, airlines like CO have invested so much in convincing the public how great RJs are that anything with propellers is looked down on. This is the main challenge for the Q400.
HighFlyerMiami
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Pilot scope clauses prevent Continental from flying the 170 at regional feeders. But the turboprop isn't affected by this.
I'm surprised that CO didn't squeeze this concession of the pilots during the most recent concession negotiations. Same problem at AA where the APA scope clause limits Eagle to the 25 existing CRJ-700s. And IMO, there's no way the executives of a legacy are ever gonna agree to pay mainline wages to fly 70 seat jets.
