Your next Delta Connection flight could be much more comfortable

Some travelers dread flying on regional airlines and their smaller (and often outdated) aircraft, but some lucky Delta flyers who board Delta Connection jets are in for a special treat.

SkyWest – one of Delta’s largest regional partner carriers – recently began using the first of its vaunted Bombardier CRJ-550 jets on Delta Connection. And it’s a big win: It’s a fan-favorite configuration with just 50 seats, dedicated overhead bins for large carry-on bags, and even a nice snack bar at the front of the plane.

Schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows the first Delta Connection flights using the CRJ-550 – initially only between Salt Lake City (SLC) and a few small mountain towns nearby. However, the same schedule data shows that flights will be offered between Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) and a few smaller cities starting in September. And with nearly 19 of these fancy planes expected to enter service for Delta Connection, according to FlightGlobal, this should become more common over time.

Here’s a look at some routes you’ll see CRJ-550s flying for Delta in the not-too-distant future.

On any Delta Connection flight, you’re still much more likely to board other aircraft, like the Embraer E-175 or other Bombardier regional jets. But while that’s rare, it’s a big step forward.

Each CRJ-550 aircraft has just 50 seats on board. And Delta has arranged them to maximize space: 10 first class seats, 20 Delta Comfort Plus seats and 20 economy seats in the back. There are no seatback entertainment and no free in-flight Wi-Fi – at least not yet – but the plane should feel newer and far more spacious than a typical regional jet.

Although it is the first time for many passengers to board a CRJ-550, technically it is not a new aircraft.

Instead, SkyWest is simply converting some of its existing 65- to 70-seat Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jets to freshen up the interior while reducing the number of seats. Airlines like United and now Delta are using this downsizing to get around so-called “scope clauses,” agreements with pilots that limit the number of flights the major airline can outsource to regional partners.

But planes with 50 or fewer seats don’t count. And so came the CRJ-550, a far more comfortable regional jet that flies for United… and now Delta.

Conclusion

Some lucky Delta flyers who would normally frown at the prospect of flying regionally on Delta Connection are in for a surprise as the airline’s regional partner SkyWest begins operations with its upgraded Bombardier CRJ-550.

These CRJ-550s will have roomier seats (and fewer of them) and additional amenities such as a snack bar and a dedicated overhead bin. While these aircraft will be quite rare for now, they should become more common on Delta’s regional routes over time.