With Embraer, Bombardier, Sukhoi/Alenia, ATR and Mitsubishi all selling or developing what look to be, or are already, quality 50-150 seaters, is it really surprising that Boeing and Airbus seem so disinterested in developing new products for the category and seem to be content to reinforce their duopoly on bigger frames…?

Mitsubishi has an extensive history in aircraft production whichis worth noting:
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Aerospace/Mitsubishi/Aero58.htm
From an historical perspective, they have a rich legacy in aviation already.

No question about it. But they don’t build commercial airplanes. dan is probably closest with the MU-2, but that was a little turboprop primarily used for corporate purposes. It also hasn’t been built in nearly 25 years. They certainly are good at building pieces of airplanes, but that’s very different than actually pushing a finished one out the door.

Scott wrote:

As for other types, how about the Sukoi Superjet 100. In production now, and partly funded by Boeing and an Italian company. What happens when someone in Central/South America starts ordering them, that could be a very interesting flood gate to open.

Yeah, I’ve been watching the Sukhoi project with great interest. They’ve received a lot of help from Boeing on that one, and they have a massive built-in market in Russia if it’s a good plane. I think that could do something, but it will be very hard for a western airline to operate a Russian airplane just because of the stigma.

Wonko Beeblebrox wrote:

http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Vision%20Airlines.htm

I always check Airfleets first, but I didn’t really trust it for this one. It doesn’t even mention the props, and Vision has no reference of the 767s on their site.

http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Vision%20Airlines.htm

As for other types, how about the Sukoi Superjet 100. In production now, and partly funded by Boeing and an Italian company. What happens when someone in Central/South America starts ordering them, that could be a very interesting flood gate to open.

In the meantime, EMB own the market outright with the 190/195, until someone else can start delivering.

How much longer can Boeing and Airbus continue to ignore this part of the market?

While I agree that the MRJ doesn’t look to be anything too spectacular in terms of the 787/A350/C Series, I welcome more competition to continue the advancement of aircraft technology, and to potentially sell airplanes at a lower price which will allow airlines to lower their operating costs which could lead to lower fares and expansion of existing and new markets.

Airlines have been killing each other’s yield’s to keep market share as travel has declined. It will be nice to see some of the cost savings of increased aircraft competition passed back on to the airlines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Zero