EMMA KELLY / PERTH & BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE
Carrier expected to take Dash 8 Q300s and Q400s as part of fleet rationalisation
Bombardier is poised to land a major order for its Dash 8 Q Series as Qantas prepares to finalise plans to revamp its regional feeder fleet.
The Canadian manufacturer has been in a two-way competition with ATR since June, when the Australian carrier issued a request for proposals for 50- to 70-seat aircraft. Qantas was expected to make a quick decision for deliveries to start next year (Flight International, 24-30 June.
With an incumbent fleet of around 30 Dash 8s, Bombardier was always seen as the frontrunner, and industry sources say the 50-seat Q300 will be selected to replace the turboprops. These are operated by Qantas Link carriers Sunstate Airlines and Eastern Australia Airlines.
Qantas general manager regional airlines Chris McArthur denies that a final selection has yet been made, however. The airline expects to make a formal decision in this half of the calendar year, he says, but declines to comment further.
In addition to the Q300s, sources say Qantas also favours the larger Q400 as a replacement for some of its ageing BAe 146s, which are operated under contract by National Jet Systems. Qantas started evaluating 146 replacements in 2000 in a joint programme with British Airways, but a selection has never been made. Sources now say that Q400s will replace part of the 146 fleet, with the rest possibly to be replaced on an interim basis by Boeing 717s - a type Qantas acquired through its purchase of Impulse Airlines.
Flight International understands that the overall plan is to go from three types (BAe 146s, Dash 8s and 717s) to two. More 717s could be acquired in the short term, but the airline is believed to be looking to switch to another type in the long term and is evaluating the CRJ700/ 900 and Embraer 170/190 families.
Source: Flight International
