Market Presence. While the oldest CRJs are more than 18 years of age, Canadair made great strides in adapting the basic corporate jet design to the needs of the tougher commercial market such that its heritage should not be any more of a significant issue than for other regional jets. The operational flexibility of the CRJ has been improved through the incorporation of higher MTOWs and better engines. While payload/range capability is still an issue for regional jets in seeking to serve longer, thinner routes, most sectors involve sector lengths of less than 500nm. This makes the 1,600nm range capability of the CRJ200ER largely irrelevant. Long-range capability reduces the need to refuel on shorter sectors but carrying more fuel has a weight and therefore fuel burn penalty. The competition to the CRJ100/CRJ200 is clearly focused on the ERJ145. The ERJ145 has achieved very notable success, something which the Canadian Government apparently believes was due in most part to the ProEx program which offered customers a low interest rate, representing a $2 million saving over the term of the loan. There are now more than 40 in storage with another 30 being advertised for sale or lease though this understimates the real predicament for the type.
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