Delta joins United in debuting the special CRJ-550 regional jet

It’s not often that you hear travelers sing the praises of a regional jet, but that might be about to change aboard Delta Air Lines.

The Atlanta-based carrier’s regional affiliate SkyWest Airlines will introduce the custom-configured Bombardier CRJ-550 regional jet on select Delta Connection flights, as first reported by AirlineGeeks and later confirmed to TPG by a carrier spokesperson.

Delta’s CRJ-550 will debut in the coming weeks, and it be outfitted in the exact same configuration as United Airlines’. The jet will feature 10 first-class recliners, as well as 20 extra-legroom Comfort+ seats and 20 standard economy seats.

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Unlike other regional jets, the CRJ-550 will also feature three special luggage closets between first class and economy, with space for a handful of full-size rollaboards. Typically, when flying on a small regional jet, large carry-on bags must be gate-checked or valeted for delivery after the flight.

This process takes up precious time during connections and is also a way for travelers to lose their bags. (That’s why I always recommend using Apple AirTags, even when you’re traveling with only carry-ons.)

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In addition to the storage closets, first-class passengers will enjoy a small walk-up bar area stocked with snacks and soft drinks in the galley.

Across all three cabins, the CRJ-550 will fit a total of 50 passengers — a number that was intentionally chosen by Delta for one big strategic reason.

Major U.S. airlines have so-called scope clauses with their pilot unions that limit the number of flights that can be operated with regional jets. These scope clauses are designed to ensure that carriers won’t simply outsource as much flying as possible to (cheaper) regional affiliates.

Scope clauses put a cap on the number of flights that can be operated by smaller regional jets. However, there’s typically one big exemption from these scope clauses: They don’t apply to regional jets that fit 50 passengers or fewer.

As for the CRJ-550, this plane is purposefully laid out to accommodate just 50 passengers. In fact, the fuselage of the CRJ-550 is the exact same one as the CRJ-700, which can fit around 70 passengers.

However, due to the scope clause, Delta can’t simply add more flights on the CRJ-700 (or even larger regional jets) if it wants to grow its regional operations.

It can remove seats from regional jets to accommodate 50 passengers, thereby avoiding violating the scope clause and giving passengers a more comfortable onboard experience.

In fact, this is a move first popularized by United, and its United Express regional division. The Chicago-based carrier was the first airline to fly the CRJ-550 back in 2019. Given the plane’s premium-heavy configuration, it now operates on some of the airline’s more business-focused regional routes, such as between Newark and Washington, D.C.

Five years later, Delta seems to agree that United’s move is indeed one worth copying. There’s no telling yet which routes Delta’s CRJ-550 will fly, but the airline did confirm that the CRJ-550 will replace single-class regional jets.

“SkyWest is in the process of implementing the CRJ550 in its Delta Connection operations later this year. The two-class CRJ550 will be modified from SkyWest’s existing fleet and will replace flying that was previously single-class to align with the Delta Connection experience customers have come to expect from Delta,” Delta shared in a statement.

As Delta leans into its strategy of being the most premium U.S. airline, it makes sense for the airline to introduce the CRJ-550. The airline’s mainline pilots might not love the move, but it’s a win-win for passengers and the carrier.

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