Bombardier Dash 8 / Q400 — flights, routes and airlines

Every city pair operated by the Bombardier Dash 8 / Q400 worldwide. Live schedule data, recent safety events, and operator details.

Variants and specifications

Variant First flight Typical seats Range (nm) Status
Dash 8-100 1983 37-39 715 out of production
Dash 8-200 1994 37-39 715 out of production
Dash 8-300 1987 50-56 900 out of production
Q400 1998 70-90 1297 in service

Notable accidents and incidents

  • Colgan Air 3407 Colgan Air Q400 50 fatalities

    Stalled on approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport in icing conditions; the crew's inappropriate response to stick-shaker activation — pulling back instead of pushing forward — deepened the stall. All 49 on board were killed plus one person on the ground. The accident led to the US Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010, significantly raising first-officer qualification standards.

  • SCAT Airlines 760 SCAT Airlines Dash 8-300 21 fatalities

    Crashed near Almaty, Kazakhstan, during a VOR approach in low visibility; the crew descended below minimum safe altitude and struck terrain. All 21 on board were killed.

About the Bombardier Dash 8 / Q400

The de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8 first flew on 20 June 1983 and entered service with NorOntario Airlines in October 1984, filling a gap between small turboprops and regional jets. Bombardier acquired de Havilland Canada in 1992 and developed the greatly enlarged Q400, which rolled out in November 1997 and entered service with Wideroe of Norway in 2000. The 'Q' prefix denotes the active noise-and-vibration suppression system that makes the Q400 comparable in cabin comfort to a regional jet.

Longview Aviation Capital (parent of Viking Air) acquired the Q Series programme from Bombardier in 2019; production continues in Calgary, Alberta, as the De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400. The Q400 is the dominant remaining variant in new production. Wideroe of Norway, Horizon Air, and Air Canada Express are among the largest Q400 operators. Colgan Air 3407 (2009) was the most significant accident involving the type and drove landmark regulatory changes to crew qualification requirements in the United States.

Bombardier Dash 8 / Q400 — safety & facts

Safety record

Recorded occurrences
1
Hull losses
0
Fatal accidents
0
Total fatalities
0
Records span
2003–2003

Based on 1 occurrences across NTSB, ASN, MAK, ATSB & Wikidata records. See full safety record →

Key facts

Manufacturer
Bombardier
Typical seats
37-90 pax
Range
4,400 km
First flight
1983-06
Last fatal hull loss: 2018 View full safety record →

Color reflects time since the last recorded fatal hull-loss involving this type, drawn from public datasets (NTSB, Aviation Safety Network, Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives, Wikidata). It is not a commercial safety rating and does not normalise for flights flown, hours, or fleet size — for those, see the manufacturer or IATA Safety Report.

Notable events

  1. — US-Bangla Airlines — 51 fatalities. Source.
  2. — Colgan Air, opf Continental Connection — 50 fatalities. Source.
  3. — 1 fatalities. Source.
  4. — Horizon Air, opf Alaska Airlines — 1 fatalities. Source.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Bombardier Dash 8 / Q400 safe?
The Q400 has a reasonable safety record for a regional turboprop. Colgan Air 3407 (2009, 50 fatalities) was the most serious accident and led to major US regulatory reforms. Earlier Dash 8-100/300 variants had a higher accident rate, particularly in icing conditions. The Q400 generation has significantly improved systems and an active vibration suppression system.
How many fatal Bombardier Dash 8 accidents have there been?
The Dash 8 family has been involved in a moderate number of fatal accidents across its 40-year history, with earlier variants having higher accident rates. The most significant Q400 accident is Colgan Air 3407 (50 fatalities, 2009). SCAT Airlines 760 (21 fatalities, 2013) involved the Dash 8-300 variant.
Which airline has the largest Dash 8 / Q400 fleet?
Wideroe of Norway operates one of the world's largest Q400 fleets with around 40 aircraft, serving remote Norwegian communities. Air Canada Express (operated by Jazz Aviation) and Horizon Air are among the largest North American operators. De Havilland Canada (formerly Longview Aviation Capital) continues to manufacture new Q400s.
What's the difference between the Dash 8-300 and Q400?
The Q400 is substantially larger than the Dash 8-300, carrying 70-90 passengers versus 50-56, and its PW150A engines are far more powerful, giving it regional-jet-like speeds (360 kt cruise vs 287 kt). The Q400 also has the active noise-and-vibration suppression system ('Q' designation) and a redesigned glass cockpit, making it essentially an all-new aircraft sharing only the Dash 8 heritage name.
How many seats does a Bombardier Dash 8 / Q400 have?
The Dash 8-100 and -200 seat 37-39 passengers; the -300 seats 50-56. The Q400 typically seats 70-82 in standard layouts, with a 90-seat high-density option. Most airline configurations use 74-78 seats in a 2-2 arrangement.
When was the Bombardier Dash 8 introduced?
The Dash 8-100 entered service with NorOntario Airlines on 23 October 1984. The stretched Dash 8-300 followed in 1989. The Q400, the current production variant, entered service with Wideroe of Norway in 2000. De Havilland Canada continues to produce new Q400s (rebadged DHC-8-400) at its Calgary facility.

Fly on the Dash 8 / Q400

It's currently flying from Luxemburg (LUX), Calgary (YYC), Bolzano (BZO). See where to catch one and how to book →

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