Originally Posted by
cavemanzk
In the future we could see the ATR 72-600s being rolled down to replace some of the Q300s flying, with say an fleet of 10x A220-100s for the regional markets.
I personally don't see A220s in NZ, as NZ is too small to make them efficient. Would only really be worth it AKL to South Island as get a cruise. Not worth it within an island or from Wellington so really not enough routes to make them work. Really in NZ the A320/1 are too much aircraft for the length of the flights, should really be using them 120min plus, but need seats volume. And places like AKL are gate constrained.
Plus the A220s are more than 80 seats so need AvSec at regional airports, which adds more costs as well.
That said the A220s could be interesting to opening secondary markets into Aussie or offering more flights a day from WLG & CHC. Could late morning depatures from NZ like the wide bodies do from AKL or change the four sector a day pattern.