REDDING, Calif. - The Redding Municipal Airport welcomed a big change to the tarmac Thursday afternoon. The airport switched their commercial planes from the 30-passenger Embraer 120 Brasilia to the 50-passenger Bombardier CRJ-200 jet plane.
Airport management and passengers say it's a major upgrade.
"Any growth is exciting and this is very very exciting. It's simply a key that even if you fill up your planes you got to get that passenger count up you got to get a bigger aircraft," said Redding Airport Manager Bryant Garrett.
Garrett said they've increased the overall amount of seats 10 percent. The new jet will have 50 seats instead of 30 in the old propeller plane.
Garrett said there are plenty benefits to the Bombardier CRJ-200.
"They are more efficient at altitude. They are more efficient at that so there is less fuel used and we don't have a long distance to go. They go up and hit altitude, short flight, then back down," Garrett shared.
One of the first passengers off the flight, Mark Parker, said his experience was enjoyable.
"It was great, it was a lot quieter than the propeller flights into here," Parker said.
Another passenger who boarded the plane, Jamie Jacobsen, didn't realize he was going to board a historical flight.
"I wasn't aware that I am one of the first passengers but yea I am really excited about it," Jacobsen shared.
Jacobsen thinks the new jets will make traveling much easier.
"Who wants to drive to Sacramento, when you don't have to. It will be nice to come home get in your car and go home instead of having a 2 to 3 hour drive ahead of you. It's much nicer," Jacobsen said.
There are more seats available, but there are less flight departures. There used to be 3 departures but now there are two leaving at 5:30 a.m. and 3:20 p.m.
Story and video: http://www.krcrtv.com
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