There will always be a market for some regionals, but I think that their big growth spurt is over. People do like jet service to small cities; they are not so fond of the same jet service when it involves them flying on a smaller jet to a city that used to be served with mainline aircraft that were larger. And, the major airlines pilot unions seem to have pushed back to a degree, resisting the outsourcing of anything much larger than an E170 to a regional partner. However, I don't think regionals will go away completely or anything - and if there is any constant in the aviation industry, it is change. Reminds you not to get too complacent. I do find it curious that Southwest, one of the most successful carriers out there, chose never to "regionalize" its product with a contract carrier - I think because they wanted to keep all aspects of customer service in house (among other things.)