Breaking up is hard to do, but the end is finally near. Delta Air Lines will end operations on its once-massive fleet of CRJ-200s on 30 November.
That means beginning in December, not a single Delta Air Lines passenger will set foot on a CRJ-200 (CR2) for the first time in over three decades. However, for CR2 die-hards (do any exist?), not all is lost: Delta scheduling continues to indicate the possibility that at least three cities will again see CR2 service in spring 2024 (even if it is probably just be a scheduling error).
Delta Connection Carrier Comair Introduced the CRJ-200 to North America in 1993
The Canadair Regional Jet program traces its roots back to the early 1970s when William Lear, the creator of the Learjet, spearheaded a project to launch a new business jet called the Challenger 600.
Canadian aerospace manufacturer Canadair took over the project prior to the type’s certification in 1980. However, despite its certification, sales never took off. In 1986, Bombardier acquired Canadair and initiated a comprehensive program overhaul, resulting in the development of the CRJ-100.
The maiden flight of the CRJ-100 took place on 10 May 1991. Following certification in October 1992, Lufthansa subsidiary CityLine became the launch customer for the new regional jet. Meanwhile, in North America, Comair (a Delta Connection carrier that would later become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines) was the launch customer for the CRJ-100. Comair initiated CRJ service between Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in Canada on 1 June 1993.
A newer, more efficient model, the -200, was introduced shortly after that. In all, 1021 CRJ-100/200s were manufactured between 1991 and 2006.
Today, just 122 remain in service in North America. Among them, 81 are operated by Skywest (Delta Connection, United Express), 36 by Air Wisconsin (American Eagle), and seven with Canadian carrier Jazz Aviation (Air Canada Express).
Interestingly, Air Wisconsin resumed flying the CRJ-200 again earlier this year after parking them during the pandemic. The carrier operates a small number of regional routes using the CR2 out of Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) on behalf of American Eagle.
An 11 or Three-Year Process, Depending on Who You Ask
Rumblings of an impending end to CR2 flying for Delta have been swirling since at least 2012. However, it wasn’t until 2020 that airline leadership officially set a plan in motion to permanently retire the CRJ-200s from Delta’s fleet.
It’s not hard to understand why. The CR2 is Delta’s smallest aircraft (Delta Connection no longer operates any ERJ135/145s). Although its impact on revolutionizing regional air travel cannot be understated, the CR2 is almost universally hated by passengers and crew. Offering minimal amenities, the CR2 doesn’t fit in with Delta Air Lines’ evolving business model. The company aims to “simplify, modernize, and streamline” its fleet and enhance the customer experience, all while slashing operating costs.
These changes will make Delta the first U.S. carrier to offer first class on every flight.
The tiny CR2 features just one class of service. The aircraft is notorious for its tight seating configuration and (very) limited overhead storage. Despite featuring Delta’s premium seat product Comfort Plus, the added legroom on the CR2 is negligible. Taller passengers often contort into uncomfortable positions, while overhead “bins” fill up quickly, leading to delays during boarding and disembarkation. Further, the CR2 does not feature in-seat power, unlike the CRJ-700/900.
Delta also plans to roll out Wi-Fi capabilities to every aircraft in its fleet (with the exception of any remaining CR2s) by the end of 2024.
Of course, the pandemic and the ongoing pilot shortage crisis have further contributed to sealing the fate of the CR2.
In its 2020 announcement, Delta committed to completely phasing out the CR2 by summer 2023. Despite minor adjustments to the timeline, Delta has remained largely consistent with its goal.
The Beginning of the End
Delta Connection carrier Endeavor Air ended CR2 operations out of Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport (ATL) in May 2023. This left St. George, Utah-based Skywest Airlines as Delta’s sole operator of the type out of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).
However, Skywest has been phasing out CR2 operations in recent weeks. In mid-October 2023, Skywest ended CR2 ops out of Detroit and Minneapolis.
That left Salt Lake City as the only remaining Delta hub with CRJ-200 flights.
Where Delta CRJ-200s Still Fly Today
But even at SLC, Delta is preparing to end CR2 ops.
As of the time of this writing (mid-November 2023), Skywest is deploying the CRJ-200 on routes to just three cities out of SLC, which are:
- CNY: Moab, Utah (Canyonlands Regional Airport)
- EKO: Elko, Nev. (Elko Regional Airport)
- CDC: Cedar City, Utah (Cedar City Regional Airport)
Aside from these cities, Skywest previously operated the CR2 on seasonal flights to Yellowstone Airport (WYS) in West Yellowstone, Mont. However, this service concluded for the winter months in mid-October.
Similarly, service to Moab, Elko, and Cedar City will end for the winter months on 30 November.
So, is that the end of Delta’s CRJ-200 story? The short answer is: Probably, yes.
According to delta.com, the potential resumption of service to at least two of those locations – West Yellowstone (WYS) and Moab (CNY) – still shows the CR2 next spring, but that was probably just a placeholder aircraft for the schedule. It is more than likely going to be with the larger CRJ700 or CRJ900.
At the same time, local media in Moab is reporting that Skywest, which also provides United Express service to CNY from Denver International Airport (DEN), will pull out of CNY for good by the end of 2023. In its place, federally subsidized flights to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) aboard Smyrna, Tenn.-based Contour Airlines will begin in February 2024.
More Modern and Comfortable Regional Jets Are Replacing the CRJ-200
For travelers in Elko (EKO) and Cedar City (CDC), Skywest will introduce 76-seat CRJ-900s when service resumes next spring.
This trend extends to smaller markets throughout the Delta network. Alternatives such as the CRJ-700 and the Embraer 170/175, operated by regional carriers Republic Airways, Endeavor Air, and Skywest, will replace outgoing CR2s.
Some small-to-mid-size cities have lost Delta service altogether, including Lincoln, Neb. (LNK), and the Pennsylvania cities of Erie (ERI) and Wilkes Barre/Scranton (AVP). However, these instances are not isolated, with more than 70 U.S. cities experiencing a reduction or elimination in air service due to various factors, including the contraction of regional airline fleets.
Once Lauded, the CRJ-200 Evolved into the Airplane Everyone Loved to Hate
As of this writing, just eight CR2s remain in Delta’s fleet of CRJ-100/200s that once numbered in the hundreds.
While most of the jets are living out their remaining days in desert boneyards, some have found new life operating federally subsidized air service routes for other carriers. But even those carriers will see an end to CR2 service in the next few years, with United Airlines committing to a 2026 end date.
Delta’s decision to retire the CRJ-200 is part of a broader trend in the aviation industry towards more efficient, environmentally friendly, and passenger-centric aircraft. Newer regional jets and smaller full-size jets like the Airbus A220 are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and improved cabin configurations.
As we bid farewell to the CRJ-200, we’d be remiss not to acknowledge its role in connecting communities and supporting regional air travel. Despite its flaws, this aircraft served as a vital link between smaller airports and major hubs, facilitating economic growth and fostering connections between people.
The imminent retirement of the CRJ-200 signifies the conclusion of an era spanning over three decades for Delta Air Lines and Delta Connection. And while we doubt many tears will be shed over its retirement, Delta (and other legacy carriers) would do well to consider the many smaller communities the CRJ-200 connected to the world.
In the meantime, flyers rejoice! Each day that passes is one day closer to never having to set foot in the airplane we all love to hate. As we once called it, the Nickleback of the skies days are numbered at Delta Air Lines.
