Bombardier · Regional Jet · In Service

Bombardier CRJ900

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The Bombardier CRJ900 is a twin-engine regional jet airliner developed by Bombardier Aerospace as a stretched, higher-capacity derivative of the CRJ700. Accommodating typically between 76 and 90 passengers in a single or dual-class layout, it bridges the gap between smaller regional aircraft and mainline narrow-bodies, offering airlines strong operational economics on high-frequency, medium-density domestic and international routes.

Powered by two General Electric CF34-8C5 turbofan engines, the CRJ900 incorporates aerodynamic enhancements over its predecessors, including a stretched fuselage and aerodynamic refinements to improve field performance and fuel efficiency. It entered commercial service with Mesa Airlines in early 2003 and went on to become a staple fleet component for major network carrier regional partners across North America and Europe.

By The Numbers

The Bombardier CRJ900 completed its production run following a total of 487 firm orders placed over the life of the program. As the most popular variant within the later-generation CRJ family, it was manufactured at Bombardier's facilities in Canada until final assembly lines wrapped up, culminating with the delivery of the last CRJ aircraft, a CRJ900, to SkyWest Airlines at Mirabel in February 2021.

Today, the regional jet is operated most heavily in North America, serving as a cornerstone for major regional carriers flying under mainline partnership brands like Delta Connection, American Eagle, and United Express. Major operators such as SkyWest Airlines, Mesa Airlines, and PSA Airlines have historically relied on the type to handle high-frequency, short-to-medium-haul domestic routes.

Head-to-Head

Bombardier CRJ900 vs Embraer E175

As direct market competitors in the sub-100-seat regional sector, the Bombardier CRJ900 and the Embraer E175 have long battled for dominance in fleet planning, particularly under strict North American pilot scope clauses. While both twinjets serve similar network profiles, they approach regional economics and passenger experience through distinctly different engineering philosophies.

Capacity and Range
In typical dual-class configurations, the CRJ900 accommodates roughly 76 to 90 passengers, closely mirroring the standard 76-seat layout favored by major legacy carriers for the E175. Range capabilities vary by weight variant, but both types comfortably cover short- to medium-haul sectors ranging from 1,500 to over 2,200 nautical miles depending on payload restrictions and fuel options.

Fuel Efficiency and Operating Costs
Economic profiles favor different aircraft depending on the metric evaluated. The lighter CRJ900 can burn a little less fuel on short hops, but airlines weigh that against the E175's roomier cabin. However, operators often balance these marginal trip-fuel savings against the E175's greater cargo volume capabilities and flexible seating economics.

Technical Differentiators and Cabin Environment
The most defining structural differentiator lies in cross-section design:

Embraer E175: Features a double-bubble fuselage providing a wider cabin cross-section (four-abreast seating, 2x2) that yields greater aisle width, increased headroom, and larger overhead bins capable of accommodating standard roller bags without routine gate-valeting.
Bombardier CRJ900: Developed from a corporate jet lineage (the Challenger series), it utilizes a narrower fuselage cross-section. This design gives a lighter airframe but restricts overhead bin space, frequently requiring passengers to valet-check larger carry-on luggage.

Airline Adoption and Strategy
Major network carriers and their regional partners have split deployment based on operational priorities. Airlines like Delta Air Lines and PSA Airlines (flying for American Airlines) have heavily utilized the CRJ900 for its speed, rapid turnaround capabilities, and commonality with smaller CRJ variants. Conversely, mainline partners like United Airlines and American Airlines have leaned aggressively into large-scale E175 acquisitions through regional partners like SkyWest to maximize passenger satisfaction via mainline-style cabin dimensions and superior overhead storage capacity.

View full Embraer E175 profile →

Manufacturing

Where It's Built

The Bombardier CRJ900 regional jet was manufactured at Bombardier Aerospace's production facility located in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada. Final assembly operations for the aircraft took place at this site until the production run concluded.

Structural sections and major systems were sourced from a global network of aerospace suppliers. Fuselage sub-assemblies and major structural components were largely integrated in Canada, while wings and specific aerodynamic enhancements—such as specialized winglets introduced in subsequent performance upgrades—were developed to optimize low-speed handling and cruise efficiency. Avionics suites and flight deck instrumentation were supplied primarily by Rockwell Collins, providing a common digital architecture shared across the CRJ family.

The CRJ900 is a stretch of the CRJ700, so it reused much of that aircraft's design and development work.

Notable Operators

SkyWest AirlinesDelta Air LinesMesa AirlinesPSA AirlinesLufthansa CityLineAir Nostrum

Watch

Bombardier CRJ900 In Action

Air Canada Express Bombardier CRJ-900 Onboard Takeoff

INSANE TRIP REPORT | American Eagle opb PSA | Bombardier CRJ-900 | DFW to Daytona Beach | Main Cabin

Sources & Further Reading