End of an Era - Q400s Begin Retirement
Sep 7, 2022, 4:43 pm
#1
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Join Date: May 2013
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End of an Era - Q400s Begin Retirement
For all of us who have flown QX since the beginning, it's a sad day as they start to remove the Q400's from service. Once removed QX will be all jet for the first time in their history. The first Q400 (N441QX) was flown to VCV for disposal today, tomorrow the Milt Kuolt commemorative plane (N434MK) goes.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...600Z/KPDX/KVCV
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...600Z/KPDX/KVCV
Sep 7, 2022, 8:19 pm
#2
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Interesting--during the last schedule change one of my SEA-PDX flights went from a E175 to a Q400....still shows me "waitlisted for first class" though...lol.
Sep 7, 2022, 9:34 pm
#3
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Sep 8, 2022, 10:12 am
#6
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Some comments about the Embraer 175 from Nat Pieper, VP Fleet, Finance and Alliances
“The E175 will be the Alaska Air Group’s sole regional airliner,” Pieper says. “While the economics favor the Q400 on routes up to 350 mi., the greater efficiencies of a single fleet type—reduced spares, a better [customer] experience, and premium and first-class yields—outweigh any economic advantage of the Q400 over the E175 on short stage lengths.”
Pieper notes that the E175’s stage lengths average 471 mi., while the daily utilization rate is 8.8 hr.
The E175, Pieper explains, offers the same three-class cabin as Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 737 fleet. “The E175s have developed markets to the point of requiring the 737’s higher capacity and, at the same time, providing added frequencies in the same 737 markets,” he says.
https://aviationweek.com/special-top...e-looks-steady
“The E175 will be the Alaska Air Group’s sole regional airliner,” Pieper says. “While the economics favor the Q400 on routes up to 350 mi., the greater efficiencies of a single fleet type—reduced spares, a better [customer] experience, and premium and first-class yields—outweigh any economic advantage of the Q400 over the E175 on short stage lengths.”
Pieper notes that the E175’s stage lengths average 471 mi., while the daily utilization rate is 8.8 hr.
The E175, Pieper explains, offers the same three-class cabin as Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 737 fleet. “The E175s have developed markets to the point of requiring the 737’s higher capacity and, at the same time, providing added frequencies in the same 737 markets,” he says.
https://aviationweek.com/special-top...e-looks-steady
Sep 8, 2022, 12:16 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2016
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Are there airports that were served by Q400s that cannot handle an E175?
I’ve ridden in plenty of Q400s. Can’t say that I’ll miss them, unless it results in lack of destinations.
I’ve ridden in plenty of Q400s. Can’t say that I’ll miss them, unless it results in lack of destinations.
Sep 8, 2022, 12:48 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2022
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"For all of us who have flown QX since the beginning..."
I still remember flying on the Q100 and Q200 aircraft (and Fokker F28 jets). Does anyone remember the middle seat in row 9 against the rear bulkhead where you had unlimited leg room down the aisle... and just prayed the drink cart didn't take out your shins?
Horizon also flew CRJ 900's for a spell. I'd take a Q400 over a CRJ any day of the week...
I still remember flying on the Q100 and Q200 aircraft (and Fokker F28 jets). Does anyone remember the middle seat in row 9 against the rear bulkhead where you had unlimited leg room down the aisle... and just prayed the drink cart didn't take out your shins?
Horizon also flew CRJ 900's for a spell. I'd take a Q400 over a CRJ any day of the week...
Sep 8, 2022, 1:05 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2019
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These are my thoughts exactly. I recently scheduled one purposely so my kids could ride on a prop plane and quickly remembered why I avoided them.
Sep 8, 2022, 1:09 pm
#11
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-700s for sure (I was on N216AG, LGB-PDX, Aug 2012); not sure they had the CR9s
per my log, I've been on 60 Q400 flights -- first in Aug 2003, most recent in Aug 2019 -- incl more than a few long ones (600+ miles, 2+ hours at cruise): LAX-BOI/SUN, SEA<->STS/BIL, SEA-RNO, BZN-PDX
Last edited by jrl767; Sep 8, 2022 at 1:31 pm
Sep 8, 2022, 1:17 pm
#12
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No issue with flying a prop. Issue with how they're configured inside. I won't miss them, although I don't miss the Q200 even more!
Sep 8, 2022, 2:03 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2022
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yep, a couple -100s in the 1980s (plus a bunch of ex-QX birds in Continental Express livery to and from CLE in the 2006-2011 timeframe); also probably a dozen of the little F.28s in the late 1990s
-700s for sure (I was on N216AG, LGB-PDX, Aug 2012); not sure they had the CR9s
per my log, I've been on 60 Q400 flights -- first in Aug 2003, most recent in Aug 2019 -- incl more than a few long ones (600+ miles, 2+ hours at cruise): LAX-BOI/SUN, SEA<->STS/BIL, SEA-RNO, BZN-PDX
-700s for sure (I was on N216AG, LGB-PDX, Aug 2012); not sure they had the CR9s
per my log, I've been on 60 Q400 flights -- first in Aug 2003, most recent in Aug 2019 -- incl more than a few long ones (600+ miles, 2+ hours at cruise): LAX-BOI/SUN, SEA<->STS/BIL, SEA-RNO, BZN-PDX
Scary side note from that 1999-2000 time frame - I was invited on a trip to PVR with six coworkers but wasn't able to find anyone to trade my scheduled shifts with. Two of my coworkers got the last two open seats on a PVR-SEA direct flight. The other four were aboard AS261 when it crashed. For years I wouldn't fly on an MD80 series.
Sep 8, 2022, 2:09 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 2021
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I, for one, am grateful that the smallest ride I will have to worry about on AS is an E175.
CRJ's and Q400's were fun once for the experience, but as someone who prefers to have the option to "move about the cabin" whenever it's necessary, bigger is better!
CRJ's and Q400's were fun once for the experience, but as someone who prefers to have the option to "move about the cabin" whenever it's necessary, bigger is better!