2024 RAA Annual Report⁠↗

65% of U.S. airports will have less air service in October 2024 than they had in 2019, with 30% of U.S. airports losing more than one in four of their commercial flights and 12% losing more than half of their flights. With

Regional share of U.S. departures likewise dropped, from 40% in 2019 to 35% in 2022 to just 31% in 2023. Major airlines managed pilot scarcity by substituting narrowbody aircraft on routes historically operated by regional jets, carrying more passengers at once, but from fewer places, and on fewer flights.

Major airlines hope to increase their regional flying because small community connectivity is a competitive differentiator, and regional service brings international and business travelers through their hubs. Lawmakers have shown increased appreciation for regional air service as a crucial driver of economic vitality and quality of life in small communities, evidenced by the passage of numerous policies to improve training and strengthen the aviation workforce. These policies must not be sidelined by regulatory inertia; now is the time for swift and safe implementation.

Air service is the strong thread that ties our nation together as a whole, and its importance to economic vitality and social well being is especially pronounced at the 426 airports in our country that rely on regional airlines exclusively for air service. Without regional airlines, 63% of our country’s airports would not have commercial air service.

we know our workforce investments and advocacy must span all aviation disciplines to successfully recover small community air service. This includes the maintenance technician workforce, where a growing shortage has been raising concerns for a decade and remains an area of focus where industry efforts will continue to be essential.

63 % of U.S. airports with scheduled passenger air service get their only source of air service from regional airlines.

REGIONAL AIRLINES PROVIDE 70% OR MORE of the air service in these states: 92.1% West Virginia 88.3% Alaska 83.5% North Dakota 74.0% Arkansas 72.4% Alabama 71.4% Vermont

Major network carriers serve only one-third of the country directly. Everywhere else, passengers rely on regional airlines to connect to hub airports and beyond. When regional airlines contract, this air service is diminished. Air service lost when regional airlines contract is rarely replaced by larger airlines. In those instances where larger mainline equipment can be used, this swap often comes with lost frequency, destination options, or both.

REGIONAL AIRLINE FLEET DETAILS (FIXED WING)—SORTED BY AIRLINE Top 50 U.S. Airlines as of 2023 (Departures)

Cosmic Aerospace is developing the world’s first all-electric passenger aircraft specifically for the regional aviation market. The company’s aircraft, Skylark, is engineered to comfortably accommodate 24 passengers, with standard provisions for carry-on and checked baggage. Skylark is designed for a range of up to 600 miles, offering operating costs per seat kilometer that are estimated to be 50% to 80% lower than those of comparable jet aircraft currently in service.

Green Aerospace’s mission is to create the most profitable regional aircraft ever to take to the skies. By harnessing cutting-edge hybrid-electric propulsion technology, we aim to redefine what’s possible in regional aerospace. Introducing the GR70: a revolutionary 70-seater hybrid-electric aircraft designed to seamlessly integrate into carriers’ existing route networks with just one change—more profit. The GR70 is more than an aircraft; it’s a commitment to the future of regional aviation.

The AirCraft Company was founded with the goal of designing a new family of regional airliners that will bring back dignity to the travelers; return air service to remote communities; address concerns of people with disabilities; reduce emissions and provide more room to passengers to ensure a swift exit during an emergency. We call it the Pangea® family of hybrid-electric airplanes. This family will be capable of transporting between 30 and 70 passengers and will provide wheelchair access, including to the onboard lavatory. The

Heart Aerospace’s mission is to create the world’s greenest, most affordable, and most accessible form of transport. This mission is grounded in the outlook that electric air travel will become the new normal for regional flights and can be transformational in addressing the industry’s key sustainability challenges.