Upgrading the regional flight experience

An increasing number of airlines are looking to beef up their no-frills flights in an attempt to recapture the business flyer market. Banking on a belief that business flyers are sick of having no leg room, cold meals and uncomfortable seats (who isn’t?) a number of airlines are trying to bring comfort back in style.

Northwest Airlines is one company trying to make the transition, moving from cramped 50-seat jets to more roomy 76 seat jets. The airline has order 72 new jets for next year which include a dozen first class seats with a more spacious design.

Delta says its business flyers have been asking about first class seats on regional flights for some time now. The airline is going to try and make the efficient short haul flights it offers “more seamless and more like the mainline jet experience,” according to spokeswoman Betsy Talton.

The small jets used for most regional flights are not only cramped, but uncomfortable. “You had to be a midget to see out the windows of the 50-seater, it was so low,” said aviation consultant George Hamlin of Airline Capital Associates Inc.

Although the new jets could make money feeding into larger hubs, many airline consultants worry that the airlines stand to lose money in the upgrade, especially with the rising cost of fuel.

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