Page 14 - AAA OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019 Online Magazine

[ REGIONAL TRANSPORT ]

Revived RTA

DE HAVILLAND CANADA IS
PUSHING HARD FOR DASH
8-400 SALES

Atul Chandra

De Havilland Canada is pushing hard to gain
more orders for its Dash 8-400 aircraft, pitch-
ing the type as an efficient regional operator
with more seats, jet-like speed, and more cargo
capacity, combined with its short take-off and De Havilland Canada in June for a Dash 8-400 aircraft in a 78-seat,
landing capabilities. “There is a solid existing dual-lavatory configuration; marking the first firm order for the Dash
order book and we continue to aggressively 8-400 under De Havilland’s ownership. Air Tanzania will operate the
market the aircraft,” says De Havilland Canada aircraft under lease and the new Dash 8-400, will join three of the
CEO Todd Young. The Canadian airframer says type already in service and another previously ordered one. “Our
it is seeing strong interest from existing and current fleet of three Dash 8-400 aircraft is performing very well
prospective customers in Africa and Asia and and offering excellent passenger amenities,” said Ladislaud Matindi,
that the Dash 8-400 aircraft is the only turbo- CEO, Air Tanzania. Matindi has expressed his satisfaction of the
prop capable of seating up to 90 passengers. Dash 8-400 aircraft’s low operating costs and reliable operations
in the airline’s high-utilization environment. “The after sales support
The Dash 8-400 regional transport aircraft that we have been receiving from De Havilland Canada has also
programme was acquired from Bombardier been excellent and we are happy to reinforce our commitment
by Longview Aviation Capital and led to the to this aircraft as we count on more support from De Havilland
re-launch of De Havilland Canada in June 2019. Canada as our fleet, operations and route network continue to
De Havilland Canada recently delivered the grow,” Matindi adds.
600th Dash 8-400 produced at the company’s
Toronto facility. “With more than 350 aircraft De Havilland Canada is also offering Expliseat’s ultra-light TiSeat
currently in service with North American oper- E2 seats on the Dash 8-400 as an option. Indian Low Cost Carrier
ators, the Dash 8 aircraft has been recognized (LCC), SpiceJet took delivery of its first Dash 8-400 aircraft with
as a strategically valuable part of fleets serv- TiSeat E2 installation in December of 2018. Expliseat’s TiSeat E2
ing a spectrum of successful business models, weighs only 6.5 kg per passenger and is the lightest seat certified
including by many significant members of the for installation on the Dash 8-400 aircraft. Depending on the con-
RAA,” Young says. The Dash 8 customer base figuration, the choice of these seats, reduces in-flight weight by
includes more than 65 owners and operators between 300 and 1000 lbs, in addition to offering up to one per
and the airframer will now support the world- cent in fuel savings. The Dash 8- 400 aircraft offers a full 90-seat
wide fleet of Dash 8-100/200/300/400 aircraft. capacity which fills a niche unmatched in the market and is also
available in other configurations. A future configuration could be
The Tanzanian Government Flight Agency a three-class, 50-seat configuration for regional aircraft operators
(TGFA) signed a firm purchase agreement with seeking to serve scope limited opportunities.

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