Short flights are popular. Will they last?

Short regional flights are the lifeblood of U.S aviation — but they were in decline even before jet fuel concerns struck. Here, a file photo shows a Delta Air Lines Connection regional jet operated by GoJet Airlines taking off from Logan International Airport in Boston.

Some flights are less than 100 miles, and they're the backbone of the U.S. air system, linking small towns and big cities. But short routes were in decline even before jet fuel costs spiked.

(Image credit: Charles Krupa)