After the sale of the Q400 programme by Bombardier to De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, has the aircraft type just reached a milestone waypoint.
Ethiopian Airlines has taken delivery of their 25th Q400 aircraft in dual class configuration while the aircraft type reached number 600.
Ethiopian Airlines has, beyond using this aircraft type to fly on domestic and shorter regional routes, also deployed Q400’s to partner airlines like Asky, Tchadia, Malawian and ETMozambique, where the plane provides reliable operations connecting often smaller airports with the respective hubs of these carriers.
The sale of the Q400 programme to De Havilland Aircraft of Canada not only kept the aircraft assembly in Canada but also, unlike with the CRJ programme, ensured the continued production of the model while new CRJ owners Mitsubishi immediately after the purchase was completed shut down future sales and will halt production when the last ordered aircraft has been delivered.
Present at the handover was Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, the CEO of the Ethiopian Airlines Group who had travelled to Canada to personally take delivery from the new Q400 programme owners.
Source:Prof Wolfgang Thome, ATC News
