Nearly 17 years after its first flight in September 2008, the CRJ1000 remains an unpopular aircraft variant. With a seating capacity of up to 104 passengers, it is too large to comply with the US scope clause, preventing its entry into US regional carriers' fleets. This limitation has been significant in hindering its widespread adoption.
Currently, only Air Nostrum and CityJet operate the CRJ1000 for commercial purposes. Air Nostrum's fleet of 27 aircraft serves Iberia Regional, though not all are active at any given time. Meanwhile, CityJet's five CRJ1000s are leased by Lufthansa and fly on its behalf. Both airlines are part of the Strategic Alliance of Regional Airlines.
In July, Air Nostrum and CityJet plan to conduct 190 round-trip flights daily using the CRJ1000. The average stage length for these flights has decreased by 3% to 355 nautical miles (657 km), fitting well within regional jet operations. The shortest route is from Menorca to Palma de Mallorca, while the longest stretches from Gran Canaria to Leon.