Should De Havilland Launch a Brand-New Dash 8?

‍DALLAS – De Havilland Canada (DHC) Dash 8 is one of the most successful regional planes to have ever been sold in history, and its unique aesthetic, performance, and purpose have made it one of the most recognizable airliners in its field. The DHC “Dash 8” family is turning 40 years old this year, and the legacy of the series may continue onward in the future if a decision is made in the coming months.

This is because its manufacturer is contemplating a comeback of the production of the plane in 2025 in a new upgraded shape after interest in the Dash 8 reappeared after the recovery of the market from the pandemic.

In this insight story, we explore the history of the “Dash 8” series and how Farnborough Airshow 2024 has been crucial for an eventual revival of the iconic airliner for another decade, at least.

An Aircraft Designed for a Small Target Clientele

The DHC Dash 8 family was built for one specific purpose: to connect the remote and isolated parts of the planet with small, yet very able planes to the rest of the world. This was achieved by the design of a flexible group of variants powered by turbo propeller engines with very high takeoff and landing performance. 

In fact, Skytrans Airlines (QN), which flies the oldest unit to date (VH-QQB) can land these planes in runways shorter than 4,000 feet or 1,200 meters. This ability makes the process of delivery of crucial cargo and passengers to small isolated towns much easier, with the possibility of loading more than 4 tonnes of payload on each leg.

However, three factors have significantly handicapped the program since the arrival of 2020. First of all, the COVID-19 pandemic plummeted demand for new planes drastically in all markets, and with a very specific customer list; small airlines with limited funds, made it difficult to promote the product.

Competition from its Main Rival Marked the End

Also, the family turns 40 this year, and while modernizations were applied to the project, the base of the aircraft remains the same for the latest unit rolled out, with 1980s aerodynamics and design.

But lastly, and probably the most important, the appeal for larger planes with the general growth of the industry rose, while at the same time, the crucial European market preferred taking delivery of planes made at home from its main competitor: ATR. As of 2024, only 12 airlines operate the Dash 8, against 50 operators trusting the ATR 42 or 72 family, which is especially dominant in the air cargo segment.

Therefore, in 2021 De Havilland announced the cessation of production, and the factory of Downsview Toronto was closed after the rollout of the last unit delivered to the French Sécurité Civile in May of 2023.

FIA2024 Confirmed it: The Dash 8 Will Come Back

At the 2024 edition of the Farnborough International Airshow, De Havilland saw a particular interest in a potential comeback of the Dash 8 family. This was indicated in a group of orders placed by Advantage Air, Skyward Express, the Tanzanian Government, and the Norwegian carrier Wideroe.

But, if production is paused, where would these units come from? The answer lies in Japan, as hours before, DHC announced an LOI for the purchase of seven Q400s to All Nippon Airways (NH), which would then be reconditioned, refurbished, and remarketed to these four new customers. These updates include upgrades in avionics, airframe life extensions, and freighter conversions. The latest is exclusive to Advantage Air.

However, the remarketing program extends much further than that, as DHC will be able to refit more than 20 additional units and resell them to more carriers until production of brand-new planes would be resumed, or if a new replacement is designed.

Should De Havilland Go for a Brand New Regional Plane?

This is where this gets complicated. In its “Dash 8 Roadmap” plan, De Havilland stated: “It’s clear that the Dash 8 continues to be a highly valued fleet for operators around the world whether in an airline’s network or performing a specialized mission.” Therefore, should DHC look to launch a new variant of the Dash 8 family, or to announce a fully brand new regional airliner replacement? Both options come with their downsides.

On one hand, DHC could take advantage of the good reputation of the Dash 8 program to produce a more modern variant with the trust of its current customers, but this new plane would surely fall behind in terms of technology and efficiency against its competitors due to the age of the program.

On the other hand, launching a brand new plane from scratch powered by JET-A fuel may be risky, as by the time of its first flight we could already see electric aircraft flying commercially. The risk comes also the other way around, as announcing a fully electric replacement may be too early with the electric technology we currently have.

What are your thoughts on the topic? Would you like to see the comeback of the long-successful Dash 8 family in a new shape and form? Leave your thoughts on our social media platforms!