It has been over 25 years since Bombardier's Q400 took its first flight in January 1998. In February 2000, the aircraft entered commercial service with SAS Commuter, and years later, in June 2019, the Q Series aircraft program was taken over by De Havilland Aircraft of Canada from Bombardier. Over the past twenty-plus years, the Q400 has proven to be a popular and comfortable short-haul aircraft, racking up hundreds of orders. In early 2021, De Havilland announced that it had halted production of the Q400; nevertheless, there are still 339 Q400s operating with airlines worldwide. But who are these Q400 operators?
Europe
The continent's preference for Q400 is centrally clear. In Europe, the type can be found in the fleets of many carriers, including Luxair, Icelandair, Widerøe, and Croatia Airlines.
Widerøe boasts an expansion collection of Q400 and is the largest operator on the continent with 14 Q400s in its fleet. The Nordic regional carrier operates 44 different Dash 8 models, including the smaller Q-Series 100,200 and 300 and the larger Q400 variant. The airline was the launch customer of the Q400 NextGen turboprop in May 2009, which features LED lighting, window sidewalls intended to maximize light, larger overhead bins, and new ceiling panels. Widerøe acquired the Q400 after its parent company, SAS Group, eliminated the Q400 from its regional fleet SAS Commuter in October 2007, leasing to the orders sent to Widerøe.
Photo:Markus Mainka I Shutterstock
Luxembourg flag carrier Luxair comes in second with 11 aircraft, operating a fleet of just the Q400 variant. The airline took delivery of its first Q400 on May 30, 2007, and placed its first firm order for the aircraft in 2006. The planes have 76 seats in an all-economy configuration with Euro business class. These models are mainly used for inter-European flights.
The other major European operators are Croatia Airlines at 6, Icelandair Connect at 3, SkyAlps at 8, Luxwing at 3, Avanti Air at 2, and SATA Air Acores at 5.
Central, Southern, and East Asia
Throughout Asia, many Q400 operators with the aircraft incorporated into the fleets of flag carriers, leisure airlines, and regional carriers.
All Nippon Airways' (ANA) regional carrier, ANA Wings, takes first place for Q400 operations in Asia, operating a fleet of 24 examples. These Q400s are used for regional and short-haul operations across Japan and other East Asian destinations. These Q400s have played a pivotal role in the airline's fleet after axing its order in mid-February 2023 for the Mitsubishi M90, which was scheduled to replace the Q400s.
Photo: Bombardier
India's SpiceJet comes in second place with 23 Q400s in its fleet. The Gurgaon-based carrier was the launch customer of the 90-seat extra capacity Q400. These Q400s are integral for SpiceJet, allowing the airline to have an immense regional presence in several small and underserved airports. Many of these regional routes operated by the Q400 are under the Indian Government's UDAN scheme that offers subsidies for such services.
Philippines Airlines' regional affiliate, PAL Express, operates the third largest fleet of Q400s in Asia with 13. These Q400s are configured to seat 86 passengers in a two-cabin configuration with six seats in premium economy or Comfort Class and 80 seats in economy class. Today, the airline uses the aircraft to serve numerous routes across the Philippines to the multiple archipelagic islands and Southeast Asia.
Photo: InsectWorld | Shutterstock
Among the other major operators in Asia are Aurora Airlines at 5, Biman Bangladesh Airlines at 5, Qazaq Air at 5, and Shree Airlines at 4. Russia's Aurora Airlines operates the longest route on a Q400 with twice weekly 1,119-mile flights between Khabarovsk (KHV) in Far East Russia and Beijing Daxing (PKX). The service has an eye-popping block time of 4 hours and 20 minutes.
Oceania
Four airlines are flying the Q400 in Oceania: Sunstate Airlines (QantasLink), National Jet Express, Aviair, and Air Niugini. Brisbane-based Sunstate Airlines has 31 Q400s, Perth-based National Jet Express has nine Q400s, Aviair has five, and Air Niugini has three.
QantasLink's fleet of 31 Q400s is configured to seat 74 passengers in a single economy cabin, and the carrier is one of the leading operators of Q400 today. QantasLink took delivery of its first example of the type in mid-January 2006 and has since expanded its fleet to over 30 Q400s. Today, the airline uses the aircraft to serve numerous domestic routes throughout Australia.
Photo: Ryan Fletcher I Shutterstock
Australian charter airline National Jet Express comes in second with nine Q400s, and fellow charter carrier Aviair comes in third with five Q400s. National Jet Express, part of the Rex Group, uses the Q400s to fly for mining giant BHP Mitsubishi Alliance, transporting workers to outback Queensland. Aviair, on the other hand, utilizes its Q400s on charter and sightseeing flights across Australia's northwest coast and flying multiple RPT routes on behalf of the Australian Government.
The smallest operator of the Q400 in Oceania is Air Nuigini, which has a fleet of three Q400s. The national airline of Papua New Guinea uses the Q400s on domestic flights across the Asian Pacific region from its hub at Port Moresby International Airport (POM). Air Nuigini's Q400s are configured to seat 74 passengers in an all-economy class configuration in a two by two layout.
Africa and the Middle East
There is no shortage of African Q400 operators with the aircraft incorporated into the fleets of flag carriers, leisure airlines, and regional carriers.
Ethiopian Airlines takes first place for Q400 operations in Africa, operating a fleet of 30 aircraft. The airline utilizes the type for domestic and regional routes across eastern Africa and deployed some of their Q400s to partner airlines ASKY Airlines, Malawi Airlines, and Zambia Airways.
Photo:De Havilland
In East Africa, Jambojet operates 8 Q400s from its Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) hub. Jambojet, the regional subsidiary of Kenya Airways, connects Nairobi with domestic destinations across Kenya and Entebbe, Uganda. Also in Kenya, Bluebird Aviation operates four Q400, of which three are cargo-configured Q400s and a single-passenger Q400 for charter operations.
Also, in East Africa, Rwandair operates two Q400s, Zambia Airways operates one, Air Tanzania operates five, and LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (Mozambique Airlines) operates three.
Venturing to West Africa, Air Côte d'Ivoire, the flag carrier of the Ivory Coast, operates four Q400s. The flag carrier rose from the financial ashes of Air Ivorie in 2012 and is jointly owned by the Ivory Coast Government, Air France, and Aérienne de Participation-Côte d'Ivoire. The four Q400s are configured with 67 seats in two cabins, seven in business class and 60 in economy class. These Q400s operate throughout West Africa and the Ivory Coast from the airline's hub at Abidjan Félix Houphouët Boigny International Airport (ABJ). Moreover, Nigeria's Arik Airlines also operates three Q400s on domestic and regional routes across West Africa.
Photo: Bombardier
In Central Africa, Angola flag carrier TAAG Angola operates six Q400s on domestic and regional routes throughout Central Africa. The flag carrier took delivery of its first Q400 from De Havilland, Canada, in June 2020 after an agreement announced at the 2019 Paris Air Show for six Q400s. These Q400s bolstered the Angola national carrier's short-haul and domestic route network. By 2027, the airline plans on doubling its fleet to 50 aircraft. Other African operators of the Q400 include South Africa's CemAir with four and Algerian carrier Tassili Airlines with four.
Abu Dhabi Aviation is the only airline to operate the Q400 in the Middle East. The charter airline operates two Q400s, which were delivered in March 2015 after signing a Letter of Intent in November 2013. They are used to support offshore engineering and construction companies. Abu Dhabi Aviation is also the largest commercial helicopter operator in the Middle East.
North and South America
The Q400 has captured widespread popularity in North America, especially in Canada, as it is the home turf of Bombardier and De Havilland. The Q400 is incorporated into the fleets of multiple legacy and low-cost carriers across the continent.
WestJet regional brand WestJet Encore is the largest operator in North America, boasting an impressive fleet of 46 Q400s. The airline took delivery of its first Q400 in June 2013. WestJet has the Q400 configured to accommodate 78 passengers in a two-by-two configuration in an all-economy layout.
Photo: pho.stories | Shutterstock
Regional affiliate of Canadian flag carrier Air Canada Jazz Air comes in second with 39 aircraft. The airline took delivery of its first Q400 in late June 2011 after ordering 15 examples in April 2010 and operates throughout the United States and Canada. The Q400s are integral to Air Canada's regional and international route network. Each aircraft has a capacity of 74 passengers in a single economy class layout.
Porter Airlines comes in third with a fleet of 29 Q400s. The Canadian carrier connects its hub at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) with destinations across the United States and Canada using its Q400s. The Q400 has been a staple at Billy Bishop Airport due to its short runways; the Q400's short-field performance enables it to fly in and out of Toronto's downtown airport.
Photo: NYC Russ | Shutterstock
Star Peru is the only airline to operate the Q400 commercially in South America. The airline operates two Q400s on regional routes across Peru. Also, in Peru, Aero Transporte SA operates three Q400 cargo freighters, becoming the first airline in South America to do so.
Have you flown on a Q400? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments.
