At one time outselling its fierce rival, the Franco/Italian ATR series, it looks like the De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Dash 8 is to stop production.

Whilst brave words are being said, investor Longview Aviation Capital, (also the owner of Viking International, the holder of the type certificate for most of the DHC line) confirmed a bleak future for the model.  "We will not be producing ‘whitetails’ market demand will guide our future production plans for the Dash 8-400 aircraft.”  

De Havilland Canada was founded in 1928, purchased by the Canadian government in 1981, sold to Boeing in 1986, and then to Bombardier in 1992. It was acquired by Longview in 2019 together with the brand.

A twin-engined development of the technically successful Dash 7, the Dash 8 first flew in 1983 with around 1,270 delivered.  The ATR followed a year later with sales now in excess of 1,500.

A raft of Q400s were grounded before the pandemic (including Flybe).  With the assembly line at Downsview Toronto, leased from Bombardier Aerospace only through to 2023, this looks like the end.

https://dehavilland.com

www.lvav.ca