Changan Airlines is looking for a buyer for its three Bombardier Dash 8 Q400turboprops and wants to replace the aircraft with a jet type "as soon as possible", according to the Chinese regional's assistant president Jimmy Guo.
Changan was one of the first airlines to receive the Q400 after launch customer SAS Commuter, and has encountered a string of technical problems with the aircraft. Guo says that while the high-speed 70-seater has proved highly economical to operate, its dispatch reliability has been poor and he claims the aircraft lacks passenger appeal.
"The main problem is the image of the aircraft," says Guo. "When the previous management made the decision [to order Q400s] they were looking at the economics," he says.
"We are advertising that we are flying an all-Western fleet but the passengers think they are still flying in the old Y-7s that the Q400s replaced," says Guo.
Changan was recently acquired by Hainan Airlines and has responsibility for sales and marketing of the group's regional services operated using the Q400s and 19 Fairchild Dornier 328JETs. Another 21 of the latter type are on firm order.
Hainan, responsible for aircraft procurement for the whole group, is evaluating 50- and 70-seat regional jets to expand the group's feeder operations. Guo says the winning manufacturer will be asked to buy back the Q400s as part of any deal.
"The first issue is to trade these aircraft out," he says. Bombardier has been working to correct any technical problems and expects to have eliminated them by the time aircraft number 60 is built.
Source: Flight International
