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

[Kent Broadhead]

Originally Posted by Brenden S

No mention yet. At the end of the day the runway needs to be extended.

The 2018 LHIB analysis showed the runway extension proposal was not economically viable, with RPT using newer aircraft (ATR42S specifically mentioned) noted as the best option economically.

It will be interesting to see what comes of the current RFT. Sort of sad to see the -200 go, but that's life.

[Greg Hyde]

Midlife seems to be the new spin on used or previously owned.

I can see all these "Used Car" lots changing their name to "Midlife Cars"

[Kent Broadhead]

Originally Posted by Greg Hyde

Midlife seems to be the new spin on used or previously owned.

I can see all these "Used Car" lots changing their name to "Midlife Cars"

There are 8 ex FlyBE parked that are less that 10 years old. You'd expect they'll grab these plus a couple of others

[Greg Hyde]

The LHI Runway Extension Report was completed in Dec 2018.

The link below is the document:

https://www.lhib.nsw.gov.au/sites/de...4ZyRbazw4-FltU

In the report Qlink stated "Operations of the DHC-8-200 aircraft are expected to stop
shortly after 2022".

With COVID, that wasn't a bad estimate in 2018.

[Lauren J]

Originally Posted by Kent Broadhead

There are 8 ex FlyBE parked that are less that 10 years old. You'd expect they'll grab these plus a couple of others

Croatia Airlines will very shortly be retiring 6 DH8Ds which were build in 2010ish as well.

[Zac M]

There is a number of Spicejet frames built after 2012 in storage…some have 78 seats, some are the high capacity configs with 90

[Robert.M]

Hate to think what the leg room is like on the 90 seat config!

What will be interesting to see is what routes that are serviced by the 200/300 will stick around and how many will cease due to not being economical to have the 400 service the route.

Originally Posted by MarkR

Skytrans to Lord Howe ?

Or will we see Link Airways or Rex? Will be interesting once the tender process has been completed.

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by Zac M

There is a number of Spicejet frames built after 2012 in storage…some have 78 seats, some are the high capacity configs with 90

Also a heap of ex Alaskan/Horizon birds, having a look at the Flybe birds some have been sold for parts. Quite a few of the Alaskan birds were removed from VCV storage and sent to Portland last month.

https://www.airhistory.net/photo/688798/N453QX

[Brenden S]

All 14 frames are in maintenance at the moment, so most likely the ex Alaskan aircraft.
I can confirm from a contact that they are not ex Flybe.

[Lauren J]

Originally Posted by Robert.M

will we see Link Airways or Rex?

To my knowledge, the Saab 340 cannot operate to LDH due to the runway distance required for takeoff. I think a Metroliner might be able to squeeze in with a reduced payload, but I don't know if it'll be economical to operate a load-restricted 19-seat aircraft on such a long and thin route.