About the Bombardier Dash 8 in Commercial Operations
The Bombardier Dash 8 family - from the early Series 100 to the modern Q400 - has served UK regional aviation for decades. The Q400 in particular remains a highly competitive turboprop airliner, with its speed and passenger comfort making it genuinely competitive with regional jets on routes up to 400 miles. UK and Irish operators have used the type extensively on both scheduled and charter services.
Commercial Operations Context
Dash 8 operators in the UK and Ireland cover a range of commercial activities: scheduled regional services, STOL operations to challenging airfields, inter-island services and ACMI wet-lease. The Q400's range, speed and 70-90 seat capacity make it particularly effective on routes where a 50-seat regional jet would be marginal.
Finance Overview
Finance Types Available
- Hire Purchase (HP)
- Finance Lease
- Operating Lease
- Sale and Leaseback
Typical Market Price
£3m–£18m depending on variant and age. Values vary significantly by variant, age, total time, maintenance status and avionics fit.
Typical Deposit
30% for established AOC holders with good covenants. New operators or unusual variants may require more.
Finance Term
Up to 10 years. Longer terms available for newer variants with strong residual values.
Worked Example - Bombardier Dash 8 Finance
| Parameter | Example |
|---|---|
| Aircraft purchase price | £6,000,000 |
| Deposit (30%) | £1,800,000 |
| Finance amount | £4,200,000 |
| Indicative rate | 6.3% p.a. |
| Term | 10 years (120 months) |
| Indicative monthly payment | £47,263 (approx.) |
Example is illustrative only. Your rate and terms will depend on operator profile, aircraft condition and lender assessment.