Air Tanzania takes world’s last new-build Dash 8-400

Air Tanzania (TC, Dar es Salaam) has taken delivery of the last new-build DHC-8-Q400 to roll off the De Havilland Aircraft of Canada (DHC, Toronto Downsview) production line, for now at least.

C-GPPU (msn 4624) was initially ferried to Goose Bay in late April 2021 and remained there for another three months. The Tanzanian national carrier then ferried it to Dar es Salaam via Reykjavik Keflavik, Rotterdam, Heraklion, Luxor, and Addis Ababa over the course of July 28-30, 2021, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. The aircraft is set to become 5H-TCK once re-registered in Tanzania.

Air Tanzania currently operates one DHC-8-Q300, four other Dash 8-Q400s, two A220-300s (with two more due in October), and two B787-8s. All of its aircraft, including the newly delivered DHC-8-Q400, are owned by state-owned lessor TGF – Tanzania Government Flight.

Earlier this year, the Canadian manufacturer formally announced an indefinite pause in the production of the DHC-8-Q400 type at its current Toronto Downsview site. While it vowed to resume production in the future at another location, it has yet to commit to any specific timeline or strategy.

Longview Aviation Capital, which owns De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, is also the parent of Viking Air, the manufacturer of the DHC-6-400 and the type certificate-holder of all other Dash turboprops. Its production line is at Victoria Int’l, BC.