The 44 seat versions were an end-around to the company's contract with the NW pilots. The contract had a scope clause which limited the number of "regional jets" that the company could fly under NW colors. The number of 50 seat aircraft was directly related to the number of mainline aircraft operated. Within the contract a regional jet was defined as an aircraft with a "seating capacity of 45-69 seats".

NW approached Bombardier and asked if they could certify the 50 seat aircraft with only 44 seats.....which Bombardier was more than happy to do. Operating with 44 seats, the aircraft got around the contract provision which limited the number of aircraft that could be operated......and NW ordered a buttload of 'em.

So......the 44 seaters are a result of the company getting creative with the provisions of the contract.

(and were brought online while 900+ NW pilots were furloughed due to "force majeure".....forces beyond the control of the company....which meant they didn't pay any contractually required furlough pay........but that's another story for another thread......)

During the recent contract negotiations, the company said "You know, we're not really making as much money with these 44 seaters as we'd like to be", so ALPA agreed to let them put the extra 6 seats back in......on a limited number of airframes. After that, I've lost track of the details, as it's once again a limitation on which aircraft can overfly hubs, how many can get the extra seats, etc...... It's a tangled web for sure.......