While the M100 design complied with the restrictive Scope Clause weight limits, the completing Embraer E-175 E2 was too heavy and doesn’t comply. The SpaceJet was to have GTF engines with a spacious interior. The E-190 E2 also has modern Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan engines which are more environmentally friendly and which have better fuel efficiency than the CRJ900’s GE CF34 engines. But both aircraft are outclassed by Embraer’s more spacious E-Jets for passenger experience. Restarting production with the CRJ700, even if in the CRJ550 configuration, gives MHI the ability to offer the 700 and the larger CRJ900 for sale, should it choose. The company will have 341,000 sf of hangar space when the expansion is complete. The new hangar will be big enough to accommodate narrowbody jets for a future strategic growth plan. MHIRJ added a temporary hangar in the form of a giant tent to Bridgeport earlier. Renamed MHIRJ Aviation Group, MHI committed $20m to expand its hangar space at Bridgeport (WV) by 100,000 sf. Restarting CRJ production gives MHI the ability to proceed with an aircraft that already is certified, by Canada, at much lower cost.Ī continued CRJ program also feeds into the other half of the CRJ business acquired by MHI: the aftermarket service. Although MHI had to give up the former Bombardier CRJ production space to Airbus, there is room at Mirabel Airport to construct new space.īecause MHI appears to have killed the SpaceJet program-which needed billions of dollars more to complete development and certify the aircraft-Embraer now has a monopoly in the regional jet sector. If MHI restarts production, it will be in Canada with economic development support, LNA is told. US airlines operate 257 and store 156 of these. There are 371 CRJ200s in passenger service worldwide and another 278 in storage as of June 25. Skywest did not respond to a request for comment. Skywest flies for United and for Delta Airlines. But officials praised the CRJ550 and plan to retain this sub-type. The CRJ550 in United’s configuration has generous legroom for its three-class cabin plus extra carry-on baggage space.ĭuring its investors’ day presentation June 29, United announced it had an over-reliance of 50-sest regional jets.
There are no new 50-seat jet replacements. The CRJ550 was a solution by United Airlines’ regional partner Trans State Airlines to remain within labor contract Scope Clause restrictions on seat count while replacing aging the 50-seat CRJ200s. Although the per-seat costs skyrocket by up to 34%, the trip costs essentially remain the same. The CRJ550 is a 50 seat configuration compared with the 70-76-seat design. Production of the CRJ700 may be restarted for use by the USA’s Skywest Airlines in a CRJ550 configuration, LNA is told. “Clearly, the regional jet market is important to us, but we have made no commitment to move forward in this respect.” “Our primary focus remains the support of the CRJ operating fleet,” said Ross Mitchell, vice president of Shared Services.