The MSP-Middle market western destinations (bil, bzm, boi, gtf) have been changing equipment in the upcoming schedules. From 32's to CRJ"s....That is a long time on a CRJ....

That doesn't seem to be true. Of the airports you listed, only Great Falls, MT (GTF) is operated by a CRJ. The others are operated by A319 or A320s.

And what does Compass have to do with this?



AZJ

They operate the E175 going to GTF.

E175 != CRJ, not by a long-shot.

Correct. These planes are not at all the same.

Remember, the first plane they got, while they were waiting for the Embraers?

Compass only operated the CRJ to maintain the life of its certificate. Now tht the 175s are in service, the CRJ has been returned to Mesaba for entry into service in the near future.

AZJ

Yes, CRJ is a brand of airplane (Canadair Regional Jet) and RJ= the generic term for a Regional Jet.

Can someone confirm this? Mesaba is going to operate 36 (?) CRJ-900s, and 1 CRJ-200, plus the Saabs?

Um, yeah, which NW operator gets which CRJs? And are there only -200s and -900s or are there some -700s in that mix? I never fly NW's RJ routes (heck, I've yet to set foot on a NW DC9!) so I always lose track.

Pinnacle: CRJ 100's & 200's, only difference is engines, some are (or were?) 44-seat variants due to scope provisions in pilots' contracts once upon a time.

Mesaba: CRJ 900's, Saabs

Compass: Embraers

There are no CRJ-700's in NW's stable. Let's try not to give them any ideas.

azj is a pilot w/ Mesaba & a very reliable source. Who else would you like to confirm it?

The Airlink fleet is as follows:

Compass -

36 EMB175s (2 in operation, 34 more to follow)

Pinnacle -

139(124) CRJ200s (15 to leave fleet to be operated at Mesaba). They do not have -100s and all planes have 50 seats in them.

Mesaba -

36 CRJ900s (7 delivered, 29 to arrive between now and next fall)
17 CRJ200s (1 in operation, 1 from Compass and 15 from Pinnacle)
49 Saab 340 B+ (currently going through seat refurb program)

Keep in mind these are the total numbers as currently predicted. NWA can allocate a further 18, 76 seat aircraft to an Airlink carrier. To add more, than a total of 90, the mainline fleet must have net growth. Word on the street is that NWA will allocate 9 each to Compass and Mesaba (uncomfirmed) of their respective 76 seat a/c.

Hope that helps.


AZJ

Interesting -- the CR4 (44 seater) is indeed gone from nwa.com though it's still listed in SeatGuru. Apparently they have all been converted to 50 seaters.

Whatever it takes to haul more sardines!

Very thorough and useful information. Thanks!