Starting in April, American Airlines is bringing back one of the least popular planes in airline service, the 50-seat CRJ-200, a type that American and most other U.S. airlines have retired over the past few years. AA last flew them in June, 2020.
The first routes for the plane are all from Chicago, and average 225 miles. The longest route is to Huntsville, Alabama at 510 miles, the shortest is to Battle Creek/Kalamazoo, Michigan at 142.
Past passenger complaints about the plane include narrow seats, low headspace, no WiFi and overhead bins that can only accommodate backpacks, not suitcases. It’s a one-class plane with no premium seats. It’s not the only plane with an unexpected comeback; a few airlines have un-retired A380s in recent months, an odd pairing of the smallest and largest airliners in the sky.
The planes will fly under the American Eagle brand, and will be operated by Air Wisconsin, a regional carrier that has flown for a number of major airlines. AA has a contract that could involve up to 60 of the planes on short-haul routes connecting to American hubs.
