The latest deliveries expand the total number of Dash 8-400s in Ethiopian Airlines’ fleet to 30 aircraft. The carrier received their first Dash 8-400 in March 2010 and the latest two turboprops, registration numbers MSN4615/4617, are preparing to depart for Addis Ababa.
On Friday (October 23, 2020), De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited announced the delivery of two more Dash 8-400s to Ethiopian Airlines. The milestone deliveries will expand the carrier’s Dash 8-400 fleet to 30 aircraft. Ethiopian Airlines received their first of the aircraft type in March 2010 and the latest Dash 8-400s, registration numbers MSN 4615/4617 are preparing to depart for Ethiopian’s Addis Ababa hub. In Friday’s announcement, Ethiopian Airlines Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Tewolde GebreMariam, said,
“This milestone 30th delivery highlights our confidence in the Dash 8-400 aircraft and is a testament to the joint success in supporting our network and strategic partnerships with several carriers across Africa. The Dash 8-400 aircraft continues to provide the operational flexibility, exceptional performance capability, capacity and passenger comfort we need. Most importantly, the Dash 8-400 aircraft supports the cost leadership strategy we rely on in our market – particularly in these unprecedented times during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Also commenting on Friday’s delivery announcement, De Havilland Canada’s Regional Vice President Sales – Europe and Russia, Middle East, Africa, South America/Caribbean, Sameer Adam, added,
“We congratulate Ethiopian Airlines on continuing a phenomenal growth trajectory and increasing connectivity within Africa. Ethiopian has taken tremendous positive steps to strengthen their capabilities with the acquisition of the first Dash 8-400 simulator for Africa and by recently adding a second simulator; achieving recognition as an Authorized Service Facility; and proving the value of a business class configuration on regional aircraft in Africa. We certainly look forward to more examples of Ethiopian’s continuing leadership and the success of their ongoing strategic partnerships with ASKY Airlines, Malawi Airlines, Ethiopian Moçambique Airlines and Tchadia Airlines in the operation of Dash 8-400 aircraft across Africa.”
De Havilland Canada’s fleet of Dash 8 Series aircraft across Africa includes over 90 Dash 8-400s. Globally, over 155 airlines, leasing companies and other organizations have ordered nearly 1,300 Dash 8 Family aircraft, support diverse operating models such as low-cost carriers, network connectors and point-to-point regional services. The aircraft have also been deployed in cargo, hybrid passenger-cargo, firefighting, search and rescue, medical evacuation and coastal surveillance operations.
De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited was established when Longview Aviation Capital acquired the Dash 8 aircraft program from Bombardier. The company’s portfolio includes worldwide support for the fleet of Dash 8-100/200/300/400 aircraft as well as the production and sales of the Dash 8-400. The De Havilland Dash 8-400, which seats up to 90 passengers, is the only turboprop in its class certified to operate at high altitude airports and offers the flexibility to operate with steep approaches as well as the ability to operate from unpaved runways. The aircraft offers a 30% reduction in fuel-burn versus similar capacity regional jets and is around 160 km/h faster than typical turboprops. The Dash 8-400 aircraft has more than 60 customers worldwide in nearly 40 countries. The aircraft has logged nearly 7 million flight hours with a 99.5% dispatch reliability rate.
Source: De Havilland Aircraft of Canada