Essentially that was what I was saying.
I was also saying that the fleet commonality argument isn't a very strong one for two reasons:
* they're not that common (the Q300 and Q400)
* if Air NZ was interested in commonality, there's a chance they would have gone for the ATR 42 over the Q300 (the ATRs are actually pretty compatible)
What I mean is that they would have chosen the ATR 42 instead of the Q300 when they were first deciding what to replace the Saab with.
Not that they would get the ATR 42 now or anything.
Reading that post again, even I can't understand quite what I said, so it's ambiguous and confusing - sorry.
Hopefully this one explains what I meant better.
Originally, I've always thought that the Q400 was the best, most logical and most likely choice.
Now I guess that either the ATR or Q400 could be good choices.
I doubt that Mount Cook would get Embraers - sure it would be nice, but I don't think they'll expand internationally and I don't think the ERJs are that well suited to NZ.
Both the ATR and the Q400 have their good points and they both make sense.
From a spotting point of view I think I'd prefer the ATR - more variety

.
Actually from any point of view, I'd like to see the new ATR.
Cheers
Anthony