Originally Posted by
Allanf
F Delta discontinued service to an airport if Delta didn’t have CRJ-200s there are federal subsidies for providing service to “hard to reach communities”. If none of the larger commercial airlines provided air service the government may designate your home airport for such subsidies. My $0.02.
You're describing the federal Essential Air Service subsidy program. There are significant qualifications and limitations to that. Among others:
The Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000, prohibits the Department from subsidizing EAS to communities located within the 48 contiguous States receiving per passenger subsidy amounts exceeding $200, unless the communities are located more than 210 miles from the nearest large- or medium-hub airport.
https://www.transportation.gov/polic...al-air-service
To the OP: Delta's December '17 Investor Day presentation suggests that 50-seat capacity, measured by domestic seat departures, will fall by about 70% by 2023. Maybe DL will have just 40-50 CRJ-200s at that time. IMHO that will not be good for service to small communities, not in terms of total frequencies and not in terms of getting service from multiple Delta hubs. But if RJ pilots want to make more money Delta wants them flying larger, lower cost-per-available-seat-mile aircraft. See slide #25.