The dramatic shift to larger regional jets (RJs) is illustrated by the number of 50-seat regional jets in storage which has grown six times since 2000, according to statistics produced by BACK Aviation Solutions. Today, 170 RJs are in storage worldwide, up from just 28 in 2000.

In January, just over six percent of the fleet was in storage, but that jumped to over eight percent with the shut down of Independence Air. Even so, those stocks have mostly been placed, returning to levels just above what was in storage in January.

The North American and European markets account for the vast majority of stored aircraft, with a full 50 percent retired from U.S. fleets.

Acquisition of 50-seat RJs has slowed significantly in the last few years. Last year, the number only grew 1.12 percent, according to BACK. Still, there are now 2,462 50-seat RJs in the active/in service regional airline fleet. (RAN, July 31, p.5)

The five requests for proposals (RFPs) that remain outstanding mostly call for larger regional jets, although Delta (DALQ) is looking for 50 50-seat jets and Midwest Air Group (MEH) is seeking 50-seaters as well. The newly announced Frontier (FRNT) RFP did not detail the size of the RJ it requires.