Endeavor Air: Who Really Operates Many Delta Connection Regional Flights and With Which Aircraft

History and positioning

As a dedicated regional subsidiary, Endeavor does not sell tickets to the public under its own name: someone who buys a Delta Connection flight on a regional route often flies, without knowing it, on an Endeavor aircraft with an Endeavor crew. In 2020 Delta decided to retire all 125 CRJ200s operated as Delta Connection by 2023, a process completed on schedule that left the Endeavor fleet concentrated on newer and larger models.

The fleet

The fleet counts 145 regional jets, made up of 126 CRJ-900s and 19 CRJ-700s, both built by Canada's MHI RJ (formerly Bombardier). With these numbers Endeavor remains the world's largest operator of the CRJ-900, an aircraft of about 76 seats designed for medium-density routes where a larger mainline aircraft would not be efficient.

Routes and network

The network covers 122 destinations with about 750 daily flights across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, with operating bases in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York and Raleigh-Durham. The opening of a base in Cincinnati in 2025 strengthened the airline's presence in one of Delta's key regional hubs.

On board and service

Operating exclusively under the Delta Connection brand, the onboard product - cabin, loyalty program, baggage policies - is identical to Delta mainline on comparable routes: the passenger deals with the same website, the same fares and the same SkyMiles program, with the only difference being the smaller aircraft.

What passengers say

Reviews specifically about Endeavor are rare, since passengers perceive the flight as a Delta product in every respect; the opinions collected concern the experience on the CRJ more than the carrier itself.

• Appreciated: continuity of service and loyalty program with Delta mainline, punctuality generally in line with the parent company's standards, the convenience of links to cities not served by larger aircraft.
• Less appreciated: reduced space on board, typical of 76-seat regional jets, small overhead bins that often force the largest carry-on to be checked, less onboard entertainment available than on mainline flights.

Anyone flying a Delta Connection regional route between mid-sized cities is very likely flying with Endeavor Air, even though the ticket carries only the Delta brand: there is no conscious choice to make, but it is worth knowing in order to understand why the aircraft is smaller than expected. It is not the right solution for those who need a lot of space for carry-on baggage, since the overhead bins on the CRJs are smaller than those of a mainline narrowbody. If your carry-on is generously sized, be prepared to have it checked free of charge at the gate, a common procedure on these aircraft.