FLEET - Flytec Takes Delivery of One De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 to Expand Operations in Argentina

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (“De Havilland Canada”) is pleased to announce that Flytec, a regional airline based in Argentina, has taken delivery of a DHC refurbished Dash 8-400 aircraft. The aircraft will support mining operations in Argentina.

Known for its speed, fuel efficiency, and exceptional performance in high-altitude and short-field environments, the Dash 8-400 is uniquely suited to support air access in Argentina’s diverse terrain — from mountainous areas to remote rural destinations.

“We are excited to welcome Flytec as the newest operator of the Dash 8-400,” said Ryan DeBrusk, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at De Havilland Canada. “This aircraft is ideal for Flytec’s mission of supporting operations in Argentina, offering high altitude airfield performance capability. We look forward to supporting their growth with the unmatched performance and operational flexibility of the Dash 8-400.”

This will be the first Dash 8-400 operating in Argentina, joining a growing fleet of regional aircraft operated by Flytec and it will be delivered with a modern interior configuration to enhance passenger comfort and operational versatility.

“The Dash 8-400 stood out for its high-altitude performance, making it ideal for the demanding conditions of our mining operations” said Mateo Zambruno, Chief Executive Officer at Flytec. “Coupled with its industry-leading low carbon emissions per seat and the confidence provided by DHC’s OEM certified refurbishment program, it was the clear choice for Flytec.” The Dash 8-400 is recognized globally for its operational excellence and sustainability benefits, including lower emissions and noise levels and continues to be the leading turboprop for regional airlines operating in challenging environments.

 

FLEET - Flytec (Argentina) is adding its first De Havilland Canada DHC-8-Q400 to its fleet.

N4118M  / Bombardier Dash 8-Q402

Malta Int'l - LMML, Malta
Photo: MSA130

The aircraft is a , formerly Flybe, previously registered as G-JECM.
Based in Salta and founded in 2018, Flytec specializes in services for the mining sector. This addition represents a major expansion for the airline, which is shifting from a fleet of Beechcraft King Airs to larger turboprop aircraft.

NEW AIRLINE - Universal Air (Malta) to launch its maiden commercial flight on 26 March 2024, flying to Athens, Corfu, Ibiza, Munich, Palermo and Pecs, with DHC8-400.

 More destinations are planned for later in 2024.

Images: Universal Air
 

Icelandair (Flugfelag Islands - Air Iceland) / Bombardier DHC-8-402 Q400 / TF-FXI - First Dash 8 in the new livery about to depart for Akureyri as FI48.

Reykjavik (RKV / BIRK)
Iceland 

Photo: Sveinn Th. Sigthorsson

Start-up Sky Alps signs lease-agreement for 2 DHC-8-400s

Italian start-up Sky Alps has signed a long term lease-agreement with Chorus Aviation for two DHC-8-400s. The aircraft are G-ECOK (4230), currently stored at Halifax and G-ECOO (4237), currently stored at Sandefjord-Torp. Both were previously used by flybe and are expected to be delivered in April and May.

Initially the new airline will use the aircraft on charter-flights out of its base at Bolzano to Calabria and Sicily. Later on, Sky Alps wants to launch scheduled flights between Bolzano and Milan, Munich, Rome and Vienna.

Illustration by Sky Alps.

Biman Bangladesh Receives First Dash 8-400

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (De Havilland Canada) has delivered the first of three Dash 8-400 new Dash 8-400 aircraft ordered by Bangladesh national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines. 

C-GNMO Dash-8 Biman Bangladesh Airlines - RTM/EHRD 22 Nov 2020

Robert Eikelenboom / Oaktree Aviation

ALASKA / AIR HORIZON - DHC8-400Q - N421QX

Brian Worthington

Sky Alps to charter Luxwing's Dash 8-400

Sky Alps (Bolzano) will operate as a virtual carrier chartering Dash 8-400 capacity from Luxwing (LWG, Malta Int'l), a Malta-based business charter specialist, Maltese aviation news website MAViO has reported.

The Italian start-up is due to commence services from Bolzano to Rome on May 1, 2020. While the airline has previously announced that it will use a Dash 8-400 turboprop, it did not provide any details regarding the operator.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, the first Dash 8-400 Luxwings will operate for Sky Alps will be msn 4175, a 12.6-year-old ex-South African Express (XZ, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) aircraft. It is owned by Nordic Aviation Capital and has been in storage in Bydgoszcz since June 2019, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows.

Luxwings does not currently operate any large passenger aircraft. The business charter specialist's fleet includes five E500s, two E505s, one Cessna Citation CJ1, two Citation XLS, one CJ2, four Cessna 650s, one Cessna 750, and one Embraer Praetor.

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Alaska Airlines adjusts Dash 8-400 phase-out plan

Alaska Airlines (AS, Seattle Tacoma Int'l) has substantially decelerated the phase-out of Dash 8-400 turboprops operated by Horizon Air (QX, Seattle Tacoma Int'l) due in 2019 and 2020.

According to its quarterly financial report, Alaska Airlines has reactivated two previously retired Dash 8-400s and expects them to rejoin active service in "late 2019". As such, at the end of the year, the carrier plans to actively operate 33 turboprops, up from the previously anticipated 31.

In 2020, the carrier now plans to retire just one Dash 8-400, bringing the overall number of the type in Horizon Air's fleet to 32. At the beginning of this year, Alaska Airlines planned to have just twenty-three Dash 8-400s left at the end of 2020.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Horizon Air currently has thirty-eight Dash 8-400 s in its fleet, of which five are in long-term storage. Out of the thirty-three active units, one - N402QX (msn 4032) - returned to active service on August 11, 2019, after having been stored at Sault Sainte Marie, ON since June 25, 2019, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows.

Alaska Airlines has been affected by the grounding of the B737 MAX, although to a lesser degree than many of its competitors. The carrier did not take any B737 MAX prior to the grounding, although it initially expected to take three B737-9s in 2019.



"Two of the three B737-9 aircraft that were originally scheduled for delivery in 2019 have been shifted to 2020 in light of the recent MAX grounding, based on our best estimate of the expected delivery dates," it said in the quarterly report.

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TAAG Angolan Airlines assumes order for six Dash 8-400s

TAAG Angola Airlines (DT, Luanda) has acquired six Dash 8-400s from De Havilland Aircraft of Canada. According to a statement issued during the 2019 Paris Air Show at Paris Le Bourget, the purchase agreement itself was signed on March 29, 2019, but was attributed to an unidentified customer.

"TAAG is looking to the future of our fleet and the market opportunities where the Dash 8-400 aircraft will be an important part of our growth strategy. The acquisition of these new aircraft is important to support a stronger domestic network and support our regional and international network," Rui Carreira, Chairman, TAAG Angola Airlines, said in a statement. "The Dash 8-400 aircraft offers unmatched performance and outstanding economics that will allow us to better serve smaller communities and increase frequencies in Angola."

The sextet of turboprops are those originally destined for the now abandoned Angola Expresso (Luanda) joint-venture carrier which signed a contract with Bombardier Aerospace through African Aero Trading in Luanda in May last year.

Angola Expresso was backed by the Air Connection Express Transportes Aereos S.A. consortium, whose membership included TAAG and the state-owned airports and air navigation services provider ENANA with a combined 40% stake while the remaining 60% was to have been equitably divided among private carriers that include Airjet, Air 26, Bestfly, Diexim Expresso Aviaçao, Mavewa Táxi Aéreo, SJL Aeronáutica, and Guicango.

Of the six aircraft, four were due to have been delivered in 2019 with the remaining pair due in 2020.



However, the project was abandoned after Angolan President João Lourenço repudiated the plan before firing then Minister of Transport, Augusto Tomás.

ch-aviation

QANTAS LINK - DHC8-400QC - VH-OQR

Ton Jochems - BNE

Bombardier Delivers First 90-seat Q400 Aircraft to SpiceJet

SpiceJet becomes the first airline to take advantage of the Q400 aircraft’s increased profit potential

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft today announced the delivery of its first 90-seat Q400 aircraft. The aircraft was handed over to India’s SpiceJet Limited (“SpiceJet”) the launch operator for the extra-capacity, 90-seat aircraft.

“We are excited to induct the 90-seat Q400 aircraft into our fleet,” said Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet. “The additional seats and performance improvements will result in substantial reduction in unit costs and also we will be able to address our market needs in the regional space.”

“The delivery of the first 90-seat Q400 aircraft showcases the commitment of Bombardier’s Q Series turboprop program to respond to customer requirements as they address traffic growth in regional markets,” said Todd Young, Head of the Q Series Aircraft Program, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

“I thank and congratulate the employees and suppliers who have worked tirelessly to deliver this most recent enhancement to the Q400 aircraft, and I also thank our customer, SpiceJet for its strong support and collaboration in this continuous improvement program.”

“This is a very important milestone for the Q400 aircraft program because the 90-seat option demonstrates the increased profitability potential that this unique turboprop has to offer,” said



Colin Bole, Senior Vice President, Commercial, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The increased passenger capacity allows 15 per cent reduction of seat cost compared to the previous standard Q400 aircraft and provides an enormous benefit for airlines. We are thrilled that SpiceJet will be the first operator to showcase the unique capabilities and unbeatable productivity of our turboprops.”

Angolan Consortium Signs Firm Purchase Agreement for Six Bombardier Q400

Air Connection Express, Transportes Aereos S.A to operate the six new turboprops

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that it has signed a firm purchase agreement for six new Q400 aircraft with African Aero Trading on behalf of the consortium forming Air Connection Express, Transportes Aereos S.A, based in Luanda, Republic of Angola.

Based on the list price of the Q400 aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately US$ 198 million.

“We congratulate Air Connection Express as it launches its domestic air travel business, and are pleased that the Q400 has been selected to support regional air travel in Africa,” said Jean-Paul Boutibou, Vice President, Sales, Middle East and Africa, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The Q400 has proven to be a key contributor to the growth of the network in the region, enhancing connectivity on routes that are not economically viable for larger aircraft. Today, more than 37 operators are flying the Q Series in Africa, and we look forward to adding Air Connection Express to the family of Q400 operators.”

The airline will operate the Q400 domestically to connect smaller communities and increase frequencies as a regional feeder airline to TAAG Angola Airlines – flag carrier of the Republic of Angola.



“We are delighted to have reached this milestone with Bombardier. With its industry-leading reliability, outstanding economics and performance capabilities, the Q400 will be instrumental in driving economic growth in Angola,” said Alcinda Pereira, Representative, Founding Committee, Air Connection Express, Transportes Aereos S.A. “As we look at starting operations, we are confident that the nation of Angola will benefit tremendously from the Consortium. This partnership of companies has Angola’s citizen’s needs at heart, and selecting the leading turboprop in Africa will enable us to better serve communities across the country with modern passenger comfort and improved connectivity.”

Ethiopian Airlines Signs Purchase Agreement for 10 firm Q400 Aircraft

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that it has concluded a firm order for 10 new Q400 aircraft with Ethiopian Airlines. The order also includes purchase rights for five additional Q400 aircraft.

Based on the list price of the Q400 aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately $332 million U.S.

“The Bombardier turboprops continue to deliver unmatched performance to our operators, and we are proud that the flag carrier of Ethiopia is once again recognizing its tremendous value by increasing its fleet of Q400 aircraft,” said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The market trend for high-performing and larger turboprops is intensifying, and this fifth reorder is a great example of the Q400 turboprop success story and the value it creates for clients around the world.”

ALASKA AIRLINES - Dash 8 Q400, N439QX - operated by Horizon Air

hsckcwong

LAX, usa

Bombardier Signs Largest Ever Q400 Turboprop Order with SpiceJet for up to 50 Aircraft

SpiceJet to become the launch customer of the extra-capacity, 90-Seat Q400 aircraft

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft today announced that it has concluded a firm purchase agreement with SpiceJet Limited (“SpiceJet”) of Gurgaon, India for up to 50 Q400 turboprop airliners, making it the largest single order ever for the Q400 turboprop aircraft program and bringing total Q400 firm orders to over 600 Q400 aircraft. Upon delivery, the airline will become the first in the world to operate a 90-seat turboprop, pending certification by regulatory authorities.

The purchase agreement includes 25 Q400 turboprops and purchase rights on an additional 25 aircraft. Based on list prices, the order is valued at up to US $ 1.7 billion.

“We are very proud to firm up this agreement with SpiceJet as it is another demonstration of the Q400’s unique versatility. This repeat order will not only increase the Q400 aircraft fleet in the fast-growing regional market in India and in the Asia-Pacific region but will also launch the high-density 90‑passenger model,” said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “This order confirms the airlines’ increased capacity needs on regional routes with high passenger demand and demonstrates the increased profitability potential that this unique turboprop configuration has to offer.”

“I am pleased to confirm SpiceJet’s latest order for up to 50 Bombardier Q400 planes, which has been announced at the Paris Air Show. I am sure this fresh order will help us further enhance connectivity to smaller towns and cities and help realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ensuring that every Indian can fly,” said Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet. “SpiceJet operates India’s largest regional fleet and has always been a firm believer in the growth story of India’s smaller towns and cities. We have worked hard over the years to put these smaller towns on the country’s aviation map and will strive to keep that momentum going in the times to come.”

“We have been witnessing growth in the number of passengers per departure in the turboprop market, and especially in India. Today, Bombardier offers the largest turboprop aircraft available on the market and SpiceJet will be the first airline to take advantage of the profitable and efficient operations that the 90-passenger high-density Q400 will offer them,” said François Cognard, Vice President, Sales, South-Asia and Australasia.

Since 2010, SpiceJet has taken delivery of 15 new Q400 aircraft. The airline currently operates 20 Q400 aircraft in a 78-seat configuration to domestic and international destinations. This fleet expansion will provide SpiceJet with the ability to grow profitably and leverage the robust demand forecast in the world’s fastest growing regional aviation market.

Bombardier’s Q Series turboprops and CRJ Series regional jets have made significant advances in the Australasia region where approximately 380 aircraft – including more than 240 Q Series turboprops -- are in service with or on order by over 45 customers and operators.

Bombardier’s customer support network for commercial aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region includes Regional Support Offices in Gurgaon (India), Tokyo (Japan), Sydney (Australia), Shanghai (China) and Singapore (Singapore), as well as Parts Services Depots in Sydney (Australia), Tianjin (China), Narita (Japan) and Singapore (Singapore). The network also includes three strategically located Authorized Service Facilities -- GMR Aero Technic in Hyderabad (India), STAECO in Jinan (China) and Hawker Pacific in Cairns (Australia). Operating from the company’s regional office located in Singapore, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft’s sales and marketing team is well positioned to provide industry-leading solutions to its current and prospective customers.



Including SpiceJet’s order, Bombardier has recorded firm orders for a total of 610 Q400 aircraft.

Air Niugini ends Q400 operations

Air Niugini (PX, Port Moresby) has ended Dash 8-400/Q400 operations following the return of its last remaining aircraft of the type to its owner, the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd, this week.
According to Skyliner Aviation, P2-PXS (msn 4262) was ferried to Abu Dhabi Bateen on June 22.

Air Niugini is replacing the Bombardier turboprops with Fokker 70s and 100s of which it currently operates five and seven respectively. A further four Fokker 70 aircraft are due this year.

“The F70 has significant advantages over the propeller-driven alternatives, such as the ability to fly 35% more distance for the same load and significantly faster," Air Niugini Board Chairman, Fred Reiher, said. "Importantly, the better range of F70 as compared to Fokker 100, Q400 and ATR will provide more opportunities to improve and expand services to the regional South Pacific countries.”

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LOT - Polish Airlines - DHC-8-402Q - SP-EQI

Daniel Nagy Budapest - Ferenc Liszt International, Hungary

Flybe ‒ Europe’s largest regional airline – has become the first domestic carrier to begin operating at London Heathrow (LHR) since 2013, adding new flights from Edinburgh (EDI) and Aberdeen

The two sectors replace those abandoned by Virgin Atlantic Airways’ Little Red domestic operation which ceased in September 2015. Flybe CEO Christine Ourmieres-Widener, said: “We are so pleased to confirm further our commitment to Scotland by offering even more flights to London with our two new routes from Edinburgh and Aberdeen to Heathrow’s Terminal 2, giving passengers greater choice and also linking them with our range of codeshare partners through our ‘One Stop to the World’ approach. Passengers can, for example, fly onwards with Virgin Atlantic to Los Angeles or New York, or fly east with Singapore Airlines – all on one ticket from Edinburgh or Aberdeen. Early bookings show this is an increasingly important part of the booking profile for these two new routes and we look forward to adding even more codeshare partners shortly.” London Heathrow Operations Director Derek Provan added: “Earlier this year, Heathrow reduced domestic passenger charges by £10 and it’s great to see the benefits of that coming through with Flybe’s new services to Aberdeen and Edinburgh boosting choice for our passengers. We’re delighted to welcome them to the Heathrow family.” The regional carrier will offer a 25 times weekly service to the Scottish capital from 26 March and 18 times weekly to Scotland’s energy capital from 27 March. Both routes, flown by Flybe’s Q400 fleet, will face direct competition from British Airways, which operates to Edinburgh 75 times per week, and to Aberdeen on a 45 times weekly basis.

aenna

Hawaii Island Air Signs Smart Parts Agreement with Bombardier

The five-year agreement provides component support for the Q400 aircraft selected to renew and expand the airline’s fleet
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that Hawaii Island Air, Inc. (“Island Air”) has signed a five-year Smart Parts agreement with Bombardier to provide longer-term component support for its growing fleet of Q400 aircraft. Island Air is currently operating new Q400 aircraft leased from Elix Aviation Capital Limited (Elix) of Ireland.

The Smart Parts program provides Island Air with comprehensive component maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, access to a strategically located spare part exchange pool, and on-site inventories based at the airline’s hub in Honolulu.

"When you add a new aircraft to your fleet, you want to be confident of excellent and guaranteed in-service support from the manufacturer,” said David Uchiyama, Chief Executive Officer and President, Hawaii Island Air. “Bombardier has provided invaluable assistance in helping us acquire Q400 aircraft and integrate them into our fleet. The Smart Parts program will continue to ensure prompt, comprehensive and cost-effective support, which in turn will allow us to provide the best possible interisland travel experience for our customers.”

“With the Smart Parts program, Island Air will benefit from superior parts availability and cost predictability as the airline renews its fleet with Q400 aircraft to expand its regional route network and enhance inter-island connectivity,” said Todd Young, Vice President and General Manager, Customer Services, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.