LCCs Offer Direct Routings

Despite numerous questions about regional jets and regional partners, little solid information about what the future may hold for the regional industry came out of the Calyon Airline Securities conference last week. Even so, it was the actions of low-cost carriers Air Tran and JetBlue that piqued interest. While they are cutting back capacity, at least Air Tran is finding it is competing with regional partners rather than mainlines, which gives its larger jet, point-to-point service a considerable advantage.