DETROIT- Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines (DL) is broadening its Bombardier CRJ-550 operations to Detroit (DTW), marking the third hub for this customer-friendly aircraft.
The spacious CRJ-550 will debut in Detroit, offering passengers a premium travel experience on selects regional routes.
Delta CRJ-550 to Detroit
The CRJ-550 boasts a comfortable configuration with 10 first class seats, 20 Comfort+ seats providing extra legroom, and 20 main cabin seats. This layout ensures passengers enjoy ample space and enhanced comfort during their journey.
Delta has already successfully deployed the CRJ-550 on several routes from Minneapolis (MSP) and Salt Lake City (SLC). Now, the airline is introducing this aircraft to six cities within Michigan, operating from the Detroit hub. The new routes will be phased in over several months.
The expansion, scheduled to begin on November 1, 2024, will significantly improve the passenger experience on several short-haul routes.
From Detroit, Delta will deploy the CRJ-550 to serve Delta County Airport in Escanaba and Pellston Regional Airport, both in Michigan.
Minneapolis/St. Paul will see new CRJ-550 services to Aberdeen Regional Airport in South Dakota, Delta County Airport in Escanaba, Michigan, Range Regional Airport in Hibbing/Chisolm, Minnesota, and Rhinelander–Oneida County Airport in Wisconsin.
The airline plans to further extend its CRJ-550 network in January 2025. New routes will include Detroit to Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport in Michigan, and Minneapolis/St. Paul to both Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport and Williston Basin International Airport in North Dakota.
Best Regional Jet
The CRJ-550, originally a 70-seat aircraft, has been reconfigured to accommodate only 50 seats, allowing for a more spacious cabin layout. This modification includes a larger first-class cabin, an extra-legroom economy class section, and ample storage areas for full-sized carry-on bags.
United Airlines (UA) pioneered the use of the CRJ-550, and Delta’s adoption of this aircraft type signifies a growing trend in the industry towards enhancing regional flight comfort.
Delta’s CRJ-550 fleet currently consists of five aircraft operated by SkyWest: N656CA, N707EV, N708EV, N709EV, and N710EV. These planes are primarily replacing routes previously served by the less comfortable CRJ-200.
The transition away from the CRJ-200 has been ongoing, with Delta retiring the aircraft type in late 2023. A brief return to service for one CRJ-200 (N936EV) occurred this summer, but it was flown back to Tucson International Airport for storage on September 28.
Better Travel Experience
As Delta continues to roll out the CRJ-550 across its network, passengers can look forward to an elevated travel experience on shorter routes.
Delta Air Lines’ introduction of the Bombardier CRJ-550 aircraft serves a dual purpose, addressing both passenger comfort and complex labor agreements.
The airline’s expansion of CRJ-550 operations to Detroit, its third hub, reveals a strategic move to optimize regional flight operations within the constraints of pilot scope clauses.
Scope clauses in pilot contracts limit the number of regional jets that can be operated by subsidiaries like SkyWest in relation to mainline aircraft.
For Delta and United Airlines, these restrictions apply to regional aircraft with more than 50 seats. The CRJ-550, a modified version of the 70-seat CRJ-700, circumvents these limitations by offering only 50 seats in a spacious configuration.
While the CRJ-550 may not maximize revenue per available seat mile, it significantly enhances the passenger experience compared to the densely configured 50-seat CRJ-200, often referred to as the “devil’s chariot.”
The CRJ-550’s comfortable layout includes first class and extra-legroom economy seating, fostering a perception of quality that can build long-term customer loyalty.
Industry experts note that despite the inefficiencies created by scope clauses, the resulting aircraft configurations like the CRJ-550 have garnered favor among frequent flyers. Some passengers actively seek out these more spacious regional jets over their denser counterparts.
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