Coastal Aviation inducts first Dash 8-100

Coastal Aviation (CQ, Dar es Salaam) has inducted its first 36-seater DHC-8-100, wet leased from Kenya's Renegade Air, on domestic tourism routes, according to ch-aviation research.

ADS-B data shows that 5Y-RNP (msn 197) began operating rotations between Dar es Salaam, Seronera in the central Serengeti National Park, Arusha, Tanzania's safari gateway, and Zanzibar on July 16. These are routes that Coastal Aviation previously served with its Cessna (single turboprop) Grand Caravan fleet.

Renegade Air confirmed to ch-aviation that it is wet leasing the Dash 8-100 to Coastal Aviation for an unspecified period, while the Tanzanian carrier was not immediately available for comment.

Established in 1987, making it Tanzania's oldest airline, Coastal Aviation has a fleet of nine aircraft, including three Cessna Grand Caravans, four Cessna Grand Caravan EX, and two PC-12s. Its services include safari charters, scheduled flights, and AMO work.

Domestic destinations also include Lake Manyara, Kilimanjaro, Grumeti, Mafia Island, Pemba Wawi, Tanga, Mwanza, Geita, Musoma, and Dodoma, served with the Cessna and Pilatus Aircraft fleet. The PC-12s also operate regionally to Kenya (Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta, Nairobi Wilson, Kisumu, Maasai Mara Ol Seki), Zambia (Lusaka), and Rwanda (Kigali).

Coastal Aviation has been under new ownership since 2022. It is 51% owned by Taifa Aviation, a subsidiary of the Taifa Group of Tanzanian billionaire Rostam Azizi, the other business arm being Taifa Mining & Civils. The remaining 49% shareholding is held by previous owner Carolina Colangelo.
CH Aviation

FLEET - PNG Air phases out DHC-8-100 fleet

PNG Air has discontinued Dash 8 operations, with the last two DHC-8-100s completing their final commercial flights at the end of June. The retirement of these aircraft means the airline will now operate exclusively with ATR aircraft.
A third Dash 8 configured for cargo, P2-MCG (MSN 006), remains in Port Moresby. CEO Brian Fraser stated that all three aircraft have been sold and will continue to fly with other airlines.
PNG's current fleet consists of ten ATR72-600s and three ATR42-600s.

Photo: PNG

FLEET - KIN AVIA from DRC acquires two Dash 8-Q100s

The Dash 8-100 is a 37-seat twin-engine turboprop designed for short-range regional operations, making it ideal for operating from smaller or regional runways in the DRC.

KIN AVIA secured its first Dash 8-Q100 in 2020-2022 to support its operations, initially using it while operating from Kinshasa N'dolo.

Operational Focus: The turboprops will bolster domestic flight operations to support the growing regional aviation demand

 

NEW AIRLINE - Australia's East Air to enter scheduled market in mid-4Q25

East Air (Australia) (Cairns) has announced it would launch its first scheduled route, connecting Cairns with Hamilton Island, on November 3, 2025. While the flights will initially be onboard the carrier's existing fleet of Beech 1900Ds, East Air is planning to add a DHC-8-100s or DHC-8-200s to its fleet.

"East Air has specialised in tailored charter flight services for more than 15 years. We are taking our operations to the next level by reviving a sought-after passenger service on this untapped route, which has the potential to influence the future of regional Queensland tourism," chief executive officer and owner of East Air, Alan Milne, said in a statement.

The carrier's internet booking engine shows that the flights will initially take place 3x weekly. The Cairns-Hamilton Island route has been unserved since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, although the island, a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, has scheduled flights to other mainland airports (Sydney Kingsford Smith, Brisbane International, and Melbourne Airport) operated by Qantas, Virgin Australia International, and Jetstar Airways.

East Air is a virtual brand of its parent company, Townsville Airlines, without a separate incorporation or certificate. Its fleet currently comprises two Beech 1900Ds, three Cessna (single turboprop) C208B Grand Caravans, two Cessna (twin piston) C402Cs, one Beech B200 King Air, and six Commander 500-S. Townsville Airlines also uses the brand name of Weipa Air.

Without disclosing any further details, the airline said on its website that it was in the process of securing regulatory approvals to add a Dash 8 aircraft. The renderings posted on its social media suggest it will be a -100 or a -200 variant.

Milne, until recently, ran Skytrans (since rebranded as SmartLynx Australia), a regional carrier with a fleet of Dash 8s serving remote destinations in northern Queensland and the Torres Strait Islands. Earlier, he was the CEO of Papua New Guinea's Air Niugini and held various management roles at Qantas.

 

NEW LIVERY - Skyward Express / DHC-8-106 Dash 8 / 5Y-DAC - bold new colors

Photo: Konstantin von Wedelstaedt
 

FLEET - US's Bighorn Airways adds first DHC-8-200

Bighorn Airways (BHR, Sheridan) has acquired its first DHC-8-200, namely N359PH (msn 514) which was previously operated by CommutAir on behalf of United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare).

The 25.6-year-old aircraft was retired by the regional capacity provider in 2018 when CommutAir completed its transition to jet operations. It was subsequently placed in protracted storage but was registered to Bighorn Airways on September 21, 2023, and ferried from Oklahoma City Wiley Post to Sheridan on September 23, 2023.

Bighorn Airways did not disclose its plans for the De Havilland Aircraft of Canada turboprop.

The Wyomingian passenger charter specialist operates three DHC-8-100s, one DHC-8-Q200, five Do228-200s, four CN-212s, two Air Tractors AT-402s, and a fleet of smaller aircraft.

CH Aviation