Airlines Austrian Airlines phases out Dash 8 fleet

After more than 40 years of service, Austrian Airlines has bid farewell to its last Dash 8-Q400 turboprop aircraft. The last aircraft, registered OE-LGI, performed OS 905/906 from Vienna to Innsbruck and back.

This latest flight closes the chapter of turboprop aircraft in Austrian´s. fleet. From now on, the carrier plans to serve regional passenger routes with Airbus, Boeing and Embraer aircraft. The last flight of the Dash 8 also represents the modernization that is taking place in Austrian´s fleet.

Austrian Airlines CCO Michael Trestl, commented: “Austrian Airlines is well prepared for the fleet retirement of the Dash. With the comfortable, efficient Embraer and Airbus aircraft, we will continue to offer our passengers a good feeder service with Vienna as our hub”.

“The Dash has had an impressive career in our company, it is and will remain part of our history. We will not forget that. I would like to thank everyone who has served the Dash aircraft over the past decades, from the cabin and cockpit crews, to the technician team and many more”, added Austrian Airlines COO Francesco Sciortino.

In normal market circumstances, the Dash 8 fleet performed more than 40,000 passenger flights per year. The aircraft was well known and popular for its safe operations and the ability to operate flights to demanding locations in the Alps.

Tryolean Airways became the first European airline to use the Dash 8 predecessor DHC-7 back in April 1980. Due to the aircraft´s capabilities on short runways, the aircraft operated flights to destinations like Courchevel or other airports with short runways.

Over the time, the aircraft became a popular visitor to airports around Europe and as Tryolean Airways was taken over by Austrian Airlines, new variants of the Dash 8 entered the fleet. At Austrian, 18 Dash 8-Q400s were last in service on short-haul routes.

In the last 20 years alone, over 20 million passengers flew onboard the Dash 8, while flying 237 million combined kilometres – without and accident. As this era comes to an end, Austrian Airlines is looking to open up a new door. With more environmentally friendly aircraft that will smoothen the experience for passengers and airline operations.