The largest independently owned US regional for the first time acknowledges it's looking at the new baby-jets, with a decision expected by the end of this year.

Comair, the largest independently owned US regional airline, for the first time acknowledged it is considering the new 30-40 seat regional jets for its all-RJ fleet, the company announced last week.

Comair, which has said it will be the first regional carrier in the US to operate an all-jet fleet by 2001, is intensifying its analysis of the 30-40 seat aircraft market by comparing the Fairchild 328JET and 428JET with the Embraer ERJ-135.

The Cincinnati-based airline plans to use the so-called baby-jets to allow it to serve lower traffic markets. With 245 either on order or in service, Comair currently is the largest operator of the Canadair Regional Jet. Comair recently agreed to buy 50 additional CRJs, including 20 of the new 70-passenger CRJ-700s.

Comair has already seen a demo flight of the 328JET on May 7 and is scheduled to see the ERJ-135 this week. Flight maintenance and ground handling systems will be key factors in the decision, said Comair senior vice president Charles Curran.

Comair currently operates 76 CRJs, averaging one CRJ delivery a month. It still operates about 24 Embraer Brasilia turboprops from its Orlando hub.