QantasLink announces Classic Dash-8 retirement, additional Dash-8-400 orders

[Brenden S]

Westjet Dash8's are the ones going to Qlink.

[Tony JC]

First one to be delivered from Oct to BNE under their Canadian registration before being registered in the VH-8D* block.

Most, if not all will be newer than the youngest current Q400 in the fleet, VH-LQQ.

[Ayden H]

According to planespotters.net, the first two ex WR Q400s will be MSNs 4447 and 4456, both 2013 builds. Ex C-FENY and C-GENM respectively. Current reserved regos in the 8D block are 8DG, 8DJ, 8DN, 8DO, 8DR, 8DT, 8DV and 8DW, the rest being assigned or available.

[Greg Hyde]

Originally Posted by Tony JC

First one to be delivered from Oct to BNE under their Canadian registration before being registered in the VH-8D* block.

Most, if not all will be newer than the youngest current Q400 in the fleet, VH-LQQ.

C-FENY (if correct) was deleted from the C-Reg on 27/09/2024 (L).

[Zac M]

It looks like the retirement of the Dash 8-300s is going to be quite fast, looking at the schedules I can’t find a lot of 300 flying after mid February…I only checked a small handful of routes but looks to be quite fast

[MarkR]

Out with the old and in with the not so old. The recent trend to go for “mid-life” replacements across the country may not be a bad thing given the supply chain issues with new aircraft.

[Zac M]

In reality the Q400s are probably still the best alternative to the older series Dash 8s

[Ayden H]

Originally Posted by MarkR

Out with the old and in with the not so old. The recent trend to go for “mid-life” replacements across the country may not be a bad thing given the supply chain issues with new aircraft.

I've heard Longview wants to restart Q400 production out of YYC since YZD closed in 2022.

[Tom PER]

Originally Posted by MarkR

Out with the old and in with the not so old. The recent trend to go for “mid-life” replacements across the country may not be a bad thing given the supply chain issues with new aircraft.

As long as they truly are ‘mid life’ and not ‘end of life’, like the A319’s currently heading to NWK, look at what happened to all other ex Spirit frames either side of the ones being added to the VH register.

Depending on who you talk to (basically anyone who’s not a QF fanboi), the ‘supply chain issue’ chestnut is an attempted justification for poor fleet planning, losing highly qualified and sort after LAME’s and out sourcing maintenance, in their typical Marketing PR spin…let’s try to deflect the blame elsewhere and use things Project Sunrise to try score some positive publicity.

[Robert.M]

Originally Posted by Tom PER

As long as they truly are ‘mid life’ and not ‘end of life’, like the A319’s currently heading to NWK, look at what happened to all other ex Spirit frames either side of the ones being added to the VH register. publicity.

Just because they were scrapped doesn’t mean end of life, a lot of perfectly good aircraft have been scrapped for useable parts (engines being the main reason).

Originally Posted by Tom PER

Depending on who you talk to (basically anyone who’s not a QF fanboi), the ‘supply chain issue’ chestnut is an attempted justification for poor fleet planning, losing highly qualified and sort after LAME’s and out sourcing maintenance, in their typical Marketing PR spin…let’s try to deflect the blame elsewhere and use things Project Sunrise to try score some positive publicity.

There are supply chain issues when it comes to engines. But yes lack of planning at Q/QLINK/QJE and NWK is now coming to cause them pain.