Which Airlines Still Fly Classic Dash 8s?

First introduced in the early 1980s, the Dash 8 is a successful and hugely popular regional turboprop airliner.

Whilst many of the later Q400 variants are still in service, the older, smaller “classic” DHC-100, -200 and -300 variants are now less common.

A Brief History of the De Havilland Canada DHC-8 “Dash 8”

Steve Fitzgerald (GFDL 1.2 <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html> or GFDL 1.2 <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html>), via Wikimedia Commons

The De Havilland Canada DHC-8, commonly known as the Dash 8, was introduced in 1984 as a modern regional turboprop aircraft designed for short-haul routes. Building on the success of the smaller DHC-6 Twin Otter and the larger Dash 7, the Dash 8 aimed to offer improved speed, passenger comfort, and efficiency.

The original series included the DHC-8-100, which carried up to 39 passengers, followed by the DHC-8-200 in 1995, featuring more powerful engines. The DHC-8-300, introduced in 1989, offered a stretched fuselage and a capacity of up to 56 passengers.

The most significant evolution came in 1999 with the launch of the DHC-8-400, better known as the Q400. This model introduced advanced noise-reduction technology (hence the “Q” for quiet) and carried up to 78 passengers at higher speeds, making it competitive with regional jets.

lasta29, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Early operators of the Dash 8 series included NorOntair, Air Canada, and Horizon Air.

Over 1,200 Dash 8 aircraft were sold across all variants, with production continuing until 2021 under Bombardier and later Longview Aviation (rebranded as De Havilland Aircraft of Canada).

Renowned for its rugged design and performance on challenging routes, the Dash 8 remains a popular choice for regional airlines worldwide, with older models still flying in niche markets and remote regions. The aircraft’s legacy endures as one of the most versatile and reliable turboprops ever built.

Who Still Flies the Classic Dash 8?

Wideroe DH-8 100/200 line up at Trondheim

At the time of writing, over 160 DHC-8-100s and -200s are still in service across all passenger, cargo and military variants.

The nature of the aircraft and its rugged, durable design, means it remains incredibly suited to harsher environments and can be found in significant numbers in its native Canada, as well as in Greenland,  Norway and parts of Africa and Asia.

Around 70 DHC-8-300s remain in service around the world, again across passenger, cargo and military operators, with many now found in developing areas of Africa and Asia, as well as in Canada, the Caribbean and northern Europe.

Principal Operators of the DHC-8-100

Lance C Broad, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

• 748 Air Services of Kenya (operating for United Nations)
• Air Creebec of Canada
• Air Inuit of Canada
• Airlines PNG
• Bluebird Aviation
• Central Mountain Air
• Maroomba Airlines
• Olympic Air
• Perimeter Aviation
• Ravn Alaska
• Skytrans Airlines
• Summit Air
• Wideroe

Principal Operators of the DHC-8-200

Maldivian DHC-8-200 used as an air ambuluance. Suii Guy, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

• Air Greenland
• Berry Aviation
• Icelandair
• Maldivian
• QantasLink
• SATA Air Acores
• Tassili Airlines
• Wideroe

Principal Operators of the DHC-8-300

Akwikicoastal.907, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

• Air Inuit
• Air New Zealand
• Central Mountain Air
• Maldivian
• North Cariboo Air
• PAL Airlines
• Perimeter Aviation
• Petroleum Air Services
• QantasLink
• Skippers Aviation
• Voyageur Airways
• Wideroe

Have you flown on any of the “classic” Dash 8 variants? Where did you fly? Leave a comment below.

Title image: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons