Even as the number of CRJ-200s in service with airlines around the world dwindled over the last decade and a half or so, the type remained a critical component of US regional airlines. While not necessarily a passenger favorite, the type helped bring jet service to smaller towns that would have otherwise only seen turboprops.
Despite its importance, one of the three majors that the regional airlines operate for – Delta Air Lines – decided to bid its CRJ-200s farewell. On December 1, 2023, SkyWest Airlines operated the last CRJ-200 flight on behalf of Delta Connection.
End of the Nearly Three Decades of Delta Connection’s CRJ-200s
The first CRJ-200 entered Delta Connection’s fleet – or rather its partner SkyWest Airlines’ fleet – in January 1994. Since then, over 250 different CRJ-200 airframes operated flights on behalf of Delta. Additionally, between 1993 and 2019, over 60 different CRJ-100 airframes operated Delta’s regional flights too.
The airline’s partners and subsidiaries Atlantic Coast Airlines, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Comair, Endeavor Air, and ExpressJet operated the all-economy class 50-seater on behalf of the legacy carrier.
Toward the end of the CRJ-200s stint at Delta, two regionals operated the aircraft – Delta’s wholly owned subsidiary Endeavor Air and the independent SkyWest Airlines. The former operated the CRJ-200s until April 30, 2023, when it retired the type with its last scheduled flight taking passengers from Brunswick, Georgia, to Atlanta, Georgia. The latter operated the type until the very end.
In addition to Atlanta, Delta’s CRJ-200s also used to operate extensively from Detroit and Minneapolis among other places. That said, in their last months, they only operated out of Salt Lake City, Utah. The last three routes served by the type were between Utah’s capital and:
- Cedar City, Utah (population of approx. 37,000)
- Elko, Nevada (population of approx. 20,000)
- Moab, Utah (population of approx. 5,000)
The very last flight was between Elko and Salt Lake City on the morning of December 1, 2023. It took off from Elko Airport’s runway 24 at 7:00AM local time and landed on Salt Lake City Airport’s runway 16R just 39 minutes later. Since then, Delta has been deploying the larger CRJ-900 on the route.
All Delta-Branded Domestic Flights Now Offer First Class
With the Bombardier CRJ-200 out of service, the following aircraft type remain in service on flights operated on behalf of Delta Connection:
- Bombardier CRJ-700
- Bombardier CRJ-900
- Embraer E170
- Embraer E175
In economy class, all of these aircraft are equipped with four seats abreast in a 2-2 layout. That’s the same as the CRJ-200’s configuration (with the difference being that the Embraer aircraft are more spacious).
What makes these four types different from the CRJ-200s, though, is that they all offer first class on top of economy class. On all four types, first class comes in the form of recliner seats in a 1-2 layout.
In addition to aircraft age, the lack of first class was one of the reasons behind Delta deciding to phase out the CRJ-200s. With the type out of its fleet now, the airline offers first class on domestic flights not only across its mainline fleet but also across the aircraft operated by its regional partners under the Delta Connection brand.
American Eagle and United Express Continue to Use the CRJ-200
While Delta retired its CRJ-200s, the aircraft type can still be seen on short regional hops throughout the United States thanks to the other two legacy carriers.
Air Wisconsin operates the type on behalf of American Airlines’ regional brand American Eagle. SkyWest Airlines – the same airline that also operated the last Delta Connection CRJ-200 flights – still operates the type on behalf of United Airlines’ regional brand United Express.
With both having dozens of airframes still in service, the CRJ-200 will continue serving its important role of connecting major hubs in the United States with smaller cities for the foreseeable feature, albeit not in the Delta livery.
Summary
On December 1, 2023, SkyWest Airlines operated the last Delta Connection-branded CRJ-200 flight. This followed the last CRJ-200 flight operated by Delta’s subsidiary Endeavor Air, which took place earlier in the year. Delta Connection’s phasing out of the CRJ-200 means that all domestic Delta-branded flights now offer first class.
It does not, however, mean the end of the type in the United States. Air Wisconsin and SkyWest Airlines continue to operate the type on behalf of the two other legacy carriers – American Airlines and United Airlines.
