Light Passenger Jets

The regional jet built for short-field and austere operations.

The Antonov An-148 was developed in the early 2000s as a regional jet for domestic and international markets. Designed for operation from rough and shorter runways, it reflects Antonov’s emphasis on versatility. The aircraft entered service in the late 2000s.

The largest CRJ built for high-capacity regional service

The Bombardier CRJ 1000 was developed to extend the CRJ family into the 100-seat category. Designed to offer greater capacity while preserving the efficiency and cockpit commonality of earlier models, it became the final and most capable member of the long-running CRJ regional jet series. Its introduction allowed airlines to increase revenue potential without stepping into full narrowbody territory.

The 50-seat regional jet that defined an era of short-haul travel

The Bombardier CRJ 200 became one of the most recognizable regional jets of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Compact, fast, and widely deployed under major airline brands, it played a central role in expanding regional networks and bringing jet service to smaller cities.

The regional jet redesigned to fly fewer passengers in greater comfort

The Bombardier CRJ 550 is a unique variant of the CRJ family created to meet U.S. scope clause limitations while offering a premium cabin experience. Rather than developing a new aircraft, Bombardier reconfigured the CRJ700 to carry fewer passengers, transforming it into a spacious and modern regional jet tailored for major airline partners.

The regional jet built for mid-capacity routes.

The Bombardier CRJ 700 was introduced in the early 2000s as a stretched development of the CRJ 200. Designed for approximately 70 passengers, it expanded the CRJ family into higher-capacity markets. The aircraft remains common in regional fleets.

Born from the CRJ900, replaced by It soon after

The Bombardier CRJ705 was a unique derivative of the CRJ900, created to fit strict scope clause limitations by offering fewer seats while retaining the performance and range of its larger sibling. It entered service as a premium-configured regional jet, giving airlines a way to offer business-class cabins on routes normally flown by smaller aircraft. However, as scope clause rules evolved and operators shifted priorities, the CRJ705’s niche became unnecessary. Production ended and most customers eventually transitioned to the more flexible and widely supported CRJ900, leaving the CRJ705 as a short-lived but notable step in the development of Bombardier’s regional jet family.

The stretched regional jet built for higher-capacity short-haul service

The Bombardier CRJ 900 expanded the CRJ family into the 70- to 90-seat category, offering airlines greater capacity while retaining the efficiency of the original design. Developed to bridge the gap between smaller regional jets and mainline narrowbodies, it became a key aircraft in North American and European regional networks. Its balance of speed, range, and operating economics helped extend the relevance of the CRJ platform.

First in the DHC dash 8 series, turboprop regional airliner in the 1980s

The Bombardier Q100 or De Havilland Canada Dash 8 series 100 is one of the variants of the Dash-8 that was introduced by the Canadian aircraft manufacturer, de Havilland Canada in 1984 before the company was acquired by Boeing in 1988, then later bought by Bombardier in 1992. In 2019, it was acquired by Longview Aviation Capital, bringing back the de Havilland Canada brand.

The quiet quad-jet built for city airports and short runways

The British Aerospace BAe 146 was designed to serve airports that other jets struggled to reach. With four small turbofan engines and exceptional short-field performance, it became known for its quiet operations and ability to connect major cities with smaller regional destinations.

China’s regional jet built to establish an indigenous commercial aviation industry.

The Comac ARJ21-700, also known as Xiangeng or Flying Phoenix, is a regional jet developed in China for short- and medium-haul routes. It represents one of the country’s first modern commercial jet programs. The aircraft entered service in the mid-2010s.

The regional jet built to bridge the gap between turboprops and narrowbodies.

The Embraer 170 marked the launch of Embraer’s E-Jet family in the early 2000s. Designed for airlines seeking mainline comfort in a regional footprint, it introduced a wider cabin and advanced avionics. The aircraft quickly gained acceptance on short- and medium-haul routes.

The regional jet that brought mainline comfort to short-haul routes

The Embraer 175, commonly known as the E175, became one of the most successful regional jets of the 21st century. Blending modern avionics, efficient performance, and a spacious cabin layout, it offered airlines a premium regional product that felt closer to a narrowbody experience than a traditional regional aircraft.

The regional jet built for thin-route connectivity.

The Embraer ERJ 135 is a shortened member of the ERJ 145 family. Entering service in the late 1990s, it was tailored for routes with lower passenger demand. The aircraft supports regional airline networks worldwide.

The regional jet built to bridge capacity between the ERJ 135 and 145.

The Embraer ERJ 140 was developed as a mid-capacity member of the ERJ regional jet family. Entering service in the early 2000s, it offered airlines flexibility between smaller and larger variants. The aircraft targeted short- to medium-haul regional markets.

The regional jet that reshaped short-haul aviation in the 1990s

The Embraer ERJ 145 became one of the defining regional jets of its era, offering airlines jet speed and passenger appeal on shorter routes traditionally served by turboprops. Compact, efficient, and widely adopted, it helped accelerate the global shift toward regional jet operations.

The regional jet conversion built for faster short-haul operations.

The Fairchild Dornier 328JET is a jet-powered development of the Dornier 328 turboprop. Introduced in the late 1990s, it offered higher cruise speeds while retaining the original fuselage. The aircraft served regional airlines seeking improved block times.

The compact regional jet built for lower-density short-haul routes.

The Fokker 70 is a shortened derivative of the Fokker 100 designed for smaller markets. Introduced in the 1990s, it provided jet performance with reduced seating capacity. The aircraft served regional airlines across Europe and elsewhere.

The smallest and initial variant of the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 narrow-body airliner.

On April 8 1963, the Douglas Aircraft Company announced the development of a short range aircraft DC-9. The initial DC-9 features improvements in its design, with engines attached on the rear fuselage, a T-tail configuration, a slightly swept wings, and a seating capacity of up to 90 passengers in a five abreast layout.

The regional jet program built to modernize Japan’s commercial aircraft industry.

The Mitsubishi SpaceJet was a regional jet program developed to reestablish Japan as a commercial aircraft manufacturer. Originally launched as the MRJ, it aimed to offer improved fuel efficiency in the regional market. The program was ultimately canceled before entry into service.

The modern Russian regional jet built for short and medium-haul routes.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100-95 is a twin-engine regional jet developed to modernize Russia’s short-haul airliner fleet. Introduced in the late 2000s, it combines Western and Russian systems in a contemporary narrow-body design. The aircraft serves domestic and international operators.

The short-haul jet that introduced Soviet regional jet transport.

The Tupolev Tu-124 was a short-haul jet airliner developed in the early 1960s. Based on the larger Tu-104, it was designed for regional routes within the Soviet Union. The aircraft served Aeroflot and other operators.

Soviet narrow-body jet airliner, the Tu-134 Crusty

The Tupolev Tu-134 was a Soviet narrow-body jet airliner built by Tupolev Design Bureau. The initial model was designed with a glass nose and can be operated from unpaved runways. Developed from the Tu-124, the Tu-134 was first flown in July 1963 and was introduced in September 1970. The aircraft was produced from 1966 to 1980 with a total number of 854 units built including two prototypes.

The short-haul jet that never reached full production

The Tupolev Tu-334 was a Russian twin-engine regional airliner developed in the 1990s as a successor to aging Soviet-era narrowbodies. It was intended to modernize short- and medium-haul operations with improved efficiency and Western-compliant avionics. Despite completing flight testing and limited certification work, the program never advanced into series production.

The proposed short takeoff airliner built for regional jet operations.

The Yakovlev Yak-142 was a proposed short takeoff and landing airliner derived from the Yak-42. Developed during the late Soviet period, it aimed to improve efficiency and performance. The project did not enter production.

The compact trijet built for rugged regional operations.

The Yakovlev Yak-40 is a small three-engine regional jet introduced in the late 1960s. Designed for operation from short and unprepared runways, it became one of the earliest regional jets in service. The aircraft was widely used across the Soviet Union.

The first Soviet airliner fitted with improved high-bypass turbofan engines

The Yakovlev Yak-42 was designed by the Yakovlev design bureau as a narrow-body jet airliner. Introduced on December 22, 1980, it is a mid-range passenger jet powered by three engines and can accommodate one hundred to two hundred passengers. The Yak-42 was the first airliner built and produced in the Soviet Union fitted with improved high-bypass turbofan engines. It was produced from 1979 to 2003.