Qantas Invests In Its Regional Fleet by Acquiring More DHC Dash 8

Qantas DHC Dash 8-400 At Albury Airport. QantasLink will receive 14 of the type to replace ageing Q300 and Q200 turboprops and streamline operations

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Alex Achille

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Qantas is a very unique airline. The Australian carrier, as I analysed in this other fleet specific post, has to cater to many different travel needs. The geography of Australia imposes it to offer both ULR flights to far-flung destination along with regional flights to the outback and mining communities. Maintaining the latter of these two operations means also having to operate STOL capable planes such as nimble turboprops. Qantas, via its subsidiary QantasLink, has chosen for these operations the DeHavilland Dash 8 aircraft family in all 3 variants (Q200, Q300, Q400). However the airline is now looking to streamline its operations, here’s how.

The plan laid out by Qantas is to simplify its operations and increase its operational reliability. The airline aims to do so by purchasing more DHC Dash 8-400. These incoming planes will be bought second hand (mid-life), but despite that they will rejuvenate the fleet as they will replace Q200 and Q300 planes which are older. 14 Q400s will join the QantasLink fleet with the first arrival scheduled by the end of 2024.

The final goal is to have only one turboprop aircraft type in its operations and no longer 3. Having one aircraft type to operate and maintain comes with its advantages. It’ll become cheaper to maintain the fleet as spare parts for only one plane will have to be purchased and it’ll be possible to purchase them in larger bulks.

Finally the Q400, the largest variant, is also the most advanced and most fuel efficient of the lot. That in turn reduces the fuel burn per passenger, helping save money on the biggest expense for any airline: fuel.

Qantas DHC Dash 8-400 At Albury Airport. QantasLink will receive 14 of the type to replace ageing Q300 and Q200 turboprops and streamline operations
Qantas Dash 8-400 in QantasLink livery

A Lot Going On In Qantas Regional Operations

This announcement comes as a further indication of how QantasLink is looking to modernise its operations. The regional carrier has already started phasing out its older Boeing 717s in favour of the highly fuel efficient Airbus A220 of which it already has received 2 and is expecting to receive a third shortly. Although not as flashy as the intercontinental ULR operations QantasLink’s operations are of strategic importance for Australia as a whole. QF’s turboprops carry north of 3.5 million passengers every year.

Vertical Stabiliser of Qantas Dash 8-400 Aircraft
Vertical Stabiliser of Qantas Dash 8-400 Aircraft

Images by Qantas

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Alex Achille

Ex Emirates Cabin Crew and long time aviation enthusiast. I can remember loving aviation and planes since I was a very little boy. I have developed my passion into a deep knowledge of the sector and industry to offer on my sites in depth and precise analyses of what is going on. I also completed cabin crew training with Ryanair, however, I never worked for the company (more on that another time). Finally I also have taken flying lessons completing my first solo flights.