Friday, June 13, 2025

United States and Canada are on the cusp of an historic new age of regional flying as United Airlines expands its potent CRJ550 fleet with great speed while Delta Air Lines strategically increases its high-end routes, offering first-class comfort, unparalleled passenger comfort, and finest regional connectivity in both countries.

In 2019, Bombardier introduced the CRJ550, marking a significant innovation in regional aviation. As the first triple-class 50-seat aircraft, the CRJ550 was designed to meet the evolving demands of the U.S. domestic market, allowing airlines to offer a more premium experience even on smaller regional jets. Though Bombardier has since exited the commercial aircraft sector, selling its CRJ program to Mitsubishi, the CRJ550 continues to operate through two major U.S. carriers: United Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

The CRJ550, built on the airframe of the CRJ700, offers a configuration that features first class, premium economy, and economy seating—something previously unseen in 50-seat regional jets. It was developed to provide larger cabin comfort, enhanced passenger amenities such as self-serve beverage stations, and more generous legroom. This configuration allowed carriers to maintain premium service standards while staying within the scope clause limitations imposed by pilot contracts, which cap the size and number of regional jets operated by feeder carriers.

United Airlines became the first airline to introduce the CRJ550 and continues to operate the largest fleet of this aircraft model. Its regional partner, GoJet Airlines, operates the aircraft for United, primarily focusing on high-yield business markets where the need for premium seating is high. Initially launched in October 2019, United deployed the CRJ550 to connect its Chicago O’Hare hub with 15 regional destinations, including Cincinnati, Columbus, and Indianapolis. Over time, United expanded its CRJ550 operations across additional hubs such as Newark and Washington Dulles.

According to data from Cirium, in June, United Airlines scheduled approximately 2,008 weekly CRJ550 departures. The vast majority of these—about 700 weekly flights—operate from Chicago O’Hare. Newark follows with 174 weekly departures, while Washington Dulles sees 139 weekly flights. These hubs serve as central points for United’s CRJ550 operations, primarily catering to premium customers connecting to long-haul and international flights.

United’s most heavily trafficked CRJ550 routes from Chicago O’Hare feature destinations such as St. Louis, with 32 weekly flights, Chattanooga with 28, and both Dayton and Little Rock with 26 flights each. Uniquely, United even offers international service on the CRJ550, flying from Chicago to Ottawa, Canada. This route initially launched in February 2023, paused briefly, and resumed again in late 2024.

The CRJ550 network remains tightly focused around United’s major hubs. Aside from a few one-stop itineraries, almost all flights begin or end in Chicago, Newark, or Washington Dulles. For example, one one-stop route connects Rochester to Little Rock via Chicago O’Hare, while another links St. Louis and Chattanooga via the same hub.

Newark operates 15 CRJ550 routes, with some of the busiest including 34 weekly flights to Washington National, and three daily flights to Richmond, located less than 300 miles away. Buffalo also features prominently, with up to three daily flights, except on Saturdays when the frequency drops to two.

Washington Dulles operates 16 CRJ550 routes, with Ottawa standing out as one of the most active, offering 21 flights each week. Richmond takes the top spot out of Dulles with 22 weekly departures. On Thursdays and Fridays, four daily CRJ550 flights connect Dulles and Richmond.

While United Airlines dominates the CRJ550 market, Delta Air Lines has also incorporated the aircraft into its network, albeit on a much smaller scale. Delta’s regional partner SkyWest Airlines operates the CRJ550 for Delta, offering a more limited but targeted service network compared to United.

In June, Delta Air Lines scheduled 251 weekly CRJ550 departures across three hubs: Minneapolis-St. Paul, Salt Lake City, and Detroit. Minneapolis-St. Paul serves as Delta’s busiest CRJ550 hub, with 118 weekly flights. Key routes from Minneapolis include double-daily service to smaller regional airports such as Aberdeen, Bemidji, Rhinelander, and Williston. In total, Delta operates 11 CRJ550 routes from this Minnesota hub.

Salt Lake City supports 79 weekly CRJ550 departures. While the number of destinations is smaller, Delta operates frequent flights to several locations. St. George Regional Airport receives 30 flights per week, while Cedar City and Grand Junction see 12 weekly flights each.

Detroit has the smallest CRJ550 operation within Delta’s network, with 54 weekly departures across six destinations. These include double-daily flights to Pellston Regional Airport and 12 weekly flights to Alpena County Regional Airport. Interestingly, Detroit is the only U.S. airport where both Delta and United operate the CRJ550, with United offering three weekly flights from Chicago O’Hare.

The CRJ550’s unique configuration and service model allow both United and Delta to offer premium regional products, often serving passengers connecting to long-haul flights who expect a higher standard of comfort and amenities. For United, the CRJ550 provides an opportunity to serve high-value customers connecting through key hubs like Chicago, Newark, and Washington Dulles, while staying within the scope clause limitations that govern its regional operations.

For Delta, the CRJ550 enables service to smaller regional markets that may not support larger aircraft while still offering a premium product. The limited deployment allows Delta to tailor service to niche routes where demand for first class remains strong even on short-haul flights.

The US and Canada experience a revolutionary transformation in regional aviation with United Airlines rapidly growing its CRJ550 fleet while Delta Air Lines increases premium routes in an unparalleled level of luxury and connectivity.

The CRJ550 represents a significant innovation in regional aviation, addressing passenger comfort, operational constraints, and market demands simultaneously. As regional travel continues to evolve, both United and Delta have demonstrated that there remains strong potential for premium service even on smaller regional routes. Though Bombardier no longer produces commercial aircraft, the CRJ550 remains a lasting legacy of its contribution to the evolution of regional aviation in North America.