Should I replace...

[pilotguy121a]

My aging ATR-72-200s? They are focused in Europe out of Heathrow and Frankfurt. Currently have 35 in my fleet and they serve destinations with 7 million pax and below. I chose them because at the time they were cheap and the capacity was good. However, they are getting to be 4 years old now and there is no viable replacement yet (game year is 1998). If this was the year the CRJ-701 came out, i would get those, or in 2003 the ERJ-170LR is released, which has also been one of my favorites. So my choices are as follows:
1. Keep the ATRs without replacing them until the CRJ-701 or the ERJ-170 come out
2. Replace the ATRs with ATRs
3. Replace with A319s (currently my backbone aircraft with 150 in the fleet)
4. Replace with some other aircraft (please name below, must have 1,800nm range).

What is my best option? I'm not a noob or anything, gone through 6-8 games already, just looking for some good advice.
Thanks!

[shaq]

Wait until the CRJ-701 comes online .
You're making money with these birds so , a year wont be too much.
If you're desperate buy SOME ATR to replace the oldest birds.
IIf you use the A319 to replace the regional routes , I think it would be an overkill

[pilotguy121a]

yeah that is what I think

anymore opinions?

[CHR]

Waiting 3 more years until the CRJ-701 comes out could be leave you with highish maintenance costs, however you will probably still make a nice profit, as the small aircraft have quite small maintenances all the time.

When I am based out of Heathrow or Frankfurt, the A319 is usually my smallest aircraft, taking routes from 0 pax to maybe 5 million, and then A320 and A321 for larger routes. In that sense, I don't think it would be overkill at all. You would also find using something larger than the A319 would be fine on large routes.

In short, assuming you have a reasonable amount of competition, being based in the super size airports like Heathrow means you should be fine using the likes of the A319 on any route. If you were at smaller airports, it probably would be overkill, and I would probably buy ATRs again, wait until 2002 or so (when they are again 4 years old) and buy CRJ-701s (which come out in 2001).

[pilotguy121a]

Thanks, i really just want to get rid of the slow props, use less planes. I might just wait it out till 2001, maybe replace some older ones with higher profits with A319s.

[jetrc]

Or if you don't mind sticking with props, you could always get the Dash 8-400. It's a very profitable aircraft trust me. But i think you should go for A319s as you are based in large airports. You could also consider the Fokker 70/100, or if you are willing to wait until 2003, you could have the Embraer E170.

[Japanair]

In my opinion, I think that you should be replacing them with A319's whenever you can since they are one of the most profitable aircraft in the game. You can still use them for regional routes, because it would make a much larger profit than the CRJ's (which you would need to wait for), or the new ATR's (which are smaller, even if it is a prop). You should also try using A321's when you can afford them, because they are the most profitable aircraft in the game from my experience. A plan you could use is A319's on regional routes and A321's on larger/longer routes...

[pilotguy121a]

Thanks all for you opinions! I guess I will be replacing all my ATRs with A319 (IAVs). My world only has airports with 1million+ pax, so regional is out. I will be replacing my MD-90-55s with A321-200 (IAVs) then, when they need to be replaced again.