Guys,
Does anyone use the ERJ models on short routes and is it possible to generate a sufficient profic margin from them. I'm evaluating the use of these small jets as they would appear ideal aircraft to use on short domestic routes within the UK, Netherlands, Belgium etc. However, when using the evalutation tool they come out as a really poor choice compared with the CRJ, EMB and other popular turbo-props?
Thanks in advance.
One of my subsidiaries operates three (49-seat) ER4s and my experiences are sadly not that fine. They are far less efficient than anticipated IMO.
I use a few ERJ-145XRs and I certainly make a profit with them. Not really suited to short routes and best if you can buy them. I mainly use them on long routes with low demand.
I used them (135s) once for an African airline on low traffic medium distance routes, but profits were really low. Also it is interesting to note that Embraer Jets are actually splitted into two maintenance and pilot categories (ERJ and EMB) while Bombardiers CRJs can be operated with a single category which offers a wider range of capacities and flight ranges
On sectors below 2 hours flying time and at least 100% prices it is nearly impossible to generate a small margin. If you need a feeder network in Africa some ERJ are fine, but mostly the CR7 operates at nearly the same costs offering twice the capacity of a ER3.