Palma Holding to Acquire 20 Dash 8-400 Aircraft from De Havilland Canada

DUBAI, Nov. 18, 2019 /CNW/ - Today, during the Dubai Airshow, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited ("De Havilland Canada") announced that lessor Palma Holding Limited ("Palma") has signed a Letter of Intent to purchase 20 Dash 8-400 aircraft. The parties are working to finalize a purchase agreement.

"Palma became the first lessor worldwide to order the Dash 8-400 aircraft in its dual-class configuration and this first decision led us to develop other opportunities for the Dash 8-400 aircraft," said Moulay Omar Alaoui, President, Palma Holding Limited. "We have leased new Dash 8-400 aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines, RwandAir and Falcon Aviation, and we see many more opportunities for this versatile aircraft."

"From a lessor's point of view, we see the focus from De Havilland Canada as a very strong value lever for the Dash 8-400 aircraft," said Anas Bennani, Managing Director, Palma Holding Limited. "The value of the asset not only comes from its outstanding operational flexibility, passenger amenities, and low environmental footprint, but also the focus of the De Havilland Canada sales and support teams on this product. We are confident that De Havilland Canada's renowned manufacturing expertise will only enhance the future of this aircraft program as we look ahead at developing new airline customer relationships."

"We are very encouraged by Palma's Letter of Intent to purchase 20 Dash 8-400 aircraft, especially as it comes so soon after the transition of the Dash 8 aircraft program to De Havilland Canada," said Todd Young, Chief Operating Officer, De Havilland Canada. "The Dash 8-400 aircraft has been proving itself in the Middle East and Africa for quite some time and we feel that we are on the brink of even greater success as we continue to work with lessors such as Palma to support the development of the region's air transportation networks.

"The Dash 8-400 aircraft has the largest passenger capacity of any turboprop in production today and offers more versatility as demonstrated through the wide range of missions it supports successfully – from missionized operations such as firefighting, cargo-combi operations with 50-seat aircraft, dual-class service, and Low Cost Carrier (LCC) operations with the 90-seat variant. All of these applications can be deployed in the diverse operational environment across the Middle East and Africa," added Mr. Young.

About Dash 8-400 Aircraft
The Dash 8-400 aircraft is the latest in the Dash 8 Series family. Designed as an advanced, 21st-century turboprop, it provides unmatched performance and operational flexibility. The Dash 8-400 aircraft is nimble enough for a steep approach, yet tough enough to land on unpaved run­ways. It's the only turboprop in its class certified for high altitude airports.

Offering the versatility of turboprop economics with jet-like performance, the Dash 8-400 can be adapted to many business models, delivering 30 per cent less fuel burn than competing jets, while cruising 160 km/h faster than conventional turboprops. Its large propellers operate at a lower RPM, generating more power with less noise and making it a friendly option for city centres. With industry-leading passenger experience, operating costs and environmental footprint, the Dash 8-400 aircraft is the pinnacle of the modern turboprop.

As the most successful Dash 8 Series aircraft, the Dash 8-400 has logged almost seven million flight hours with over 60 owners and operators in almost 40 countries. With a dispatch reliability rate of over 99.5 per cent, the aircraft has transported more than 400 million passengers worldwide.

About De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited
With its acquisition of the Dash 8 aircraft program, Longview Aviation Capital has proudly relaunched De Havilland Canada, one of Canada's most iconic brands. De Havilland Canada's portfolio includes sales and production of the Dash 8-400 aircraft, one of the world's most important commercial aircraft, as well as support for the worldwide fleet of Dash 8-100/200/300/400 aircraft. The company is committed to maintain the brand's 90-year-old reputation for expertise, excellence and reliability in its manufacturing and commercial operations, and through its global network providing customer services and support. Increasingly, the company is focused on the cost competitiveness of aircraft across their lifespan.  https://dehavilland.com

De Havilland, Dash 8, Dash 8-100/200/300 and Dash 8-400 are trademarks of De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited. 

A media kit, including photos and images, is available at https://dehavilland.com

SOURCE De Havilland Aircraft of Canada

Philippa King, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited, [email protected], [phone]