J-AIR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan Airlines, has become the first operator to provide a regional jet service from Tokyo’s Narita International Airport. As with many busy international airports, regional services take second place and additional domestic slots have only became possible with the opening of Narita’s second runway in mid-April. J-AIR launched its CRJ200 service from the airport in April 2002, and took delivery of its third CRJ200 the same month.

A CRJ700 for Mesa Airlines of Phoenix, painted in the colours of America West Express, during a recent demonstration flight to the US. Over forty CRJ700s have been delivered to airlines in the US and Europe since January, 2001. Deliveries of the further stretched, 90-seat class CRJ900 are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2003. If Rolls-Royce's predictions are accurate - for more larger aircraft on regional routes, with turbojets, rather than turboprops - then the CRJ900's future would appear to be assured. However, the events of last year have shown just how dramatically the airliner market can change.

Embraer’s ERJ-145, seen here in the colours of Swiss, was one of the first regional jets to replace classic turboprops such as the Fokker F.27, Avro 748 and Handley Page Herald. The ERJ-145 has more recently been developed for a number of military roles, such as a platform for airborne early warning, increasing its sales potential still further.

When Embraer rolled out its new 70-seater last October, CEO Mauricio Botelho acknowledged the impact of the downturn on both his company and its customers. However, he believes the future is brighter and explained that Embraer intends to target the new family toward mainline carriers, not just regionals.

Although major airlines and their franchisees have left the 19-seat market, aircraft like the Jetstream 31 are essential to ensure that US communities do not lose vital feeder services.

This Albanian Airlines BAe 146 is a pre-owned aircraft that was acquired...again. Perhaps, in the (hopefully) temporarily depressed airliner market, this will prove to be a financially attractive way for airlines seeking jets in the 70-110 seat category. This particular aircraft, BAe 146-200 (E2054), is operated on behalf of Albanian Airlines by Hemus Air of Bulgaria, under the latter's Air Operator’s Certificate.

Государственная канадская компания "Hydro Quebec" в 2002 году закупила два 72-местных Q400 для челночных полетов из Монреаля в удаленные точки рядом с ГЭС на севере Квебека, часто вообще не имеющие аэродромов. Самолеты эксплуатируются вместе с одним Dash 8-300.
Hydro-Quebec became the first operator to make use of the Q400’s ability to operate from gravel runways when it began employee shuttle services in April 2002, between Montreal and airfields serving five hydro-electric generating sites in Northern Quebec. The company has ordered two Q400s to replace its fleet of four Convair 580s.

Undeterred by the recent failed Fairchild Dornier and BAE Systems attempts to launch new regional aircraft, Alliance Aircraft plans to fly its StarLiner SL-100 before 2004, although little has been heard of the programme recently. This model of the proposed airliner was displayed at the Paris Airshow 2001.