I was browsing the Northwest Airlines web site, and was shocked to find that their Avro RJ-85 regional jets, operated by commuter affiliate Mesaba Airlines/Northwest Airlink, have a first class section with 16 seats (more seats than the DC-9s, the same number of seats as their A319/320s, and with a 37 inch pitch, they are considerably more roomy than any of those other NWA planes in F!) http://www.nwa.com/travel/trave/seatm/arj/index.shtml .

Before seeing this, I didn't realize that any RJs or prop aircraft, flown either by commuter or mainline airlines, had an F cabin, let alone one that was more accomodating than the big jets. Are there any other examples among US carriers? Worldwide?

[This message has been edited by Excalibur (edited 03-25-2002).]

The RJ85 is not really a regional jet in the true sense of the word since the BAE146/Avro family was designed to seat 90-120 people from the start. Most airlines in the world pack these things in with 3-3 one-class seating--NW being a rare exception.
I have heard they burn as much fuel as an 757 for a similar length flight.

I'm not sure about the 90-120 people (seating is 2-3 on NW's Avros and I can't imagine any airline cramming in 3-3 on those things, and I've never seen or heard of a variant that large of the Avro RJ85 or BaE 146, it's predecessor), but the the Avro is definitely on the large end of what can be considered a regional jet. I've found coach on these planes to be pretty comfortable too ...

Hey, those long skinny Jungle Jets are all First Class to me.

Yes, those jets do have an F cabin. The Avro, even in Y, is my favorite narrow body of all jets.

I like flying this jet. If my route has this type of aircraft, I will schedule my flight to take this instead of a Saab 340 or DC9. Yes, it does have F class cabin, I've been up ther myself. The seats in coach are even great, the have pleanty of leg room, unlike some true RJ's. I think the NWA contract states that these can only carry 69 passangers.

I agree with the sentiment expressed by most here - RJ85 is a great aircraft. I only flew it once (on Uzbekistan Airways, from Almaty to Tashkent about year and a half ago), and was quite impressed. Comfortable seats and generous pitch (at least in the front cabin).

Bingo... Thats it exactly. 70 seats or more must be flown by NW pilots. Thats the only reason why the seats are not packed in...

To adress many points in the previous posts:

-- The RJ85s are quite comfy planes. The seats are pretty much the widest in coach of any aircraft.

-- It is possible to squeeze 6 across seating into these things. I imagine this would be a bit tight.

-- There is a larger version of this plane, the RJ100/BAe146-300 or "Jumbolino." This plane could carry up to 128 people in a 6 across config.

-- I'm not aware of any other US carriers putting first class in an RJ (UA is all coach on their BAe146s) but it is quite common for the European carriers to have business class and economy cabins on their RJs. This doesn't really mean anything different in the seats, just better service and a curtain. Of course, the coach service on a European RJ is usually considerably better than the coach service in mainline american economy and sometimes better than that in F.

I find the RJs much preferable to the tine cabins of the CRJ and Embraer planes.

bump....