USA's longest regional jet flights reach up to nearly three hours

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By Sky Industry News

Jul 23, 2024

In July, 50-seat regional jets are scheduled to operate one in every 15 short-haul flights across the United States. The longest routes range from 2 hours and 27 minutes to 2 hours and 44 minutes in block time, with Houston Intercontinental to Oaxaca being the longest service.

Despite the continued presence of single-class ERJ140s/145s and CRJ100s/200s, as well as two/three-class CRJ550s, the usage of these jets has significantly declined in recent years. This decline is partly due to the scope clause agreement, which encourages a shift towards larger regional jets with better economics. In July 2024, only one out of every 15 short-haul flights will utilize these smaller aircraft.

Delta Connection was anticipated to phase out all its CRJ200s; however, a few remain in operation. These include N936EV from Detroit and N506CA from Salt Lake City.

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Catharine Pierce provided a photo for this article.

The ranking of the longest routes by block time reveals that factors such as taxi time, flight time, short delays, and slot possession contribute to the scheduling. Newark-Traverse City exemplifies how shorter routes can have higher block times due to these factors.

SkyWest Airlines plans to introduce Bombardier CRJ550s into its fleet by early third quarter for Delta Connection.

For July alone, data indicates that these jets are used on over 280 domestic routes and seven international airport pairs. Some close contenders like Denver-Lewiston and Houston Intercontinental-Puebla just missed inclusion with maximum block times of 2 hours and 24 minutes.

The ten longest routes using 50-seat RJs in July are:

- Houston Intercontinental-Oaxaca: United Express (daily ERJ145), max block time: 2h 44m

- Houston Intercontinental-Indianapolis: United Express (CRJ200 on July 13), max block time: 2h 39m

- Chicago O'Hare-Montreal: American Eagle (double daily CRJ200), max block time: 2h 39m

- Chicago O'Hare-Albany: American Eagle (double daily ERJ145), max block time: 2h 38m

- Houston Intercontinental-Colorado Springs: United Express (ERJ145 on selected dates), max block time: 2h 38m

- Philadelphia-Madison: American Eagle (daily ERJ145), max block time: 2h 37m

- Washington Dulles-Mobile: United Express (double daily ERJ145), max block time: 2h35m

- Newark-Traverse City: United Express (daily CRJ550), max block time: 2h32m

- Philadelphia-Milwaukee: American Eagle (daily CRJ200), max block time: 2h30m

- Houston Intercontinental-Knoxville: United Express (ERJ145 on most days), max block time:1

Examining Cirium data shows that these jets cover an average distance of about **276 nautical miles** or **512 km**, suitable for both jet and turboprop operations. They touch down at **184 airports** across **45 states** including the District of Columbia. Notably, United Express operates around six out of ten of these flights.

United Airlines recently began five new routes from Washington Dulles on a single day.

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