Is Australia’s Regional Turboprop Fleet Aging Well? Why OEM Support Matters More Than Build Year

There are large differences between regional airline turboprop fleets. Some are nearing end-of-life, or they are struggling to operate effectively because spare part supply chains are becoming less reliable and more costly. More and more often, the monthly OpEx to maintain ageing fleets has now grown past monthly Capex payments regional airlines could make to execute more effective regional aircraft fleet strategies.

With a full regional airline Dash-8 aircraft fleet Skytrans does not have an ageing aircraft issue. OEM DeHavilland Co (DHC) actively supports registered Dash-8 aircraft. Via DHC there are no supply chain shortages or escalating cost issues for spare parts to support Dash-8 aircraft fleets. The Dash-8 also does not have any major capital refurbishment requirements outside the mandated maintenance procedures to maximise the useful life of the Dash-8 aircraft.

DHC provides Service Packs that enable airlines under an approved maintenance program to extend Dash-8 aircraft operating life. Norway airline Wideroe has confirmed it already has a large number of Dash-8 100 aircraft operating under the DHC extended life program.

OEM extension programs can extend the lifecycle of a turboprop aircraft by up to 100%, says Gytis Gumuliauskas, CEO of Skytrans Australia.

The Australian regional airline market

When stakeholders assess current feedback on regional air services a clear picture emerges. These aren’t people complaining because a flight was delayed once. They’re business owners, executives, service providers, regional residents and frequent travellers describing how they’ve changed the way they work. Many have stopped booking regional flights unless they have no alternative. Some now drive. Others hold meetings online. Many charter and many people say they’ve lost productivity and had further cost increases because the opportunity for same day regional return travel is diminishing. The reasons are consistent: high fares, unreliable regional services and too many trips that fail to go according to plan. For businesses, the public sector, essential regional travellers, this isn’t just an airline issue. It’s time, productivity and confidence.

Ageing aircraft and key regional aviation issues can be resolved. Skytrans presents as a model example. Collaboration and new investment, not just from the public sector, can address key regional aviation issues.

Some turboprop aircraft fleets and their operators are struggling because those aircraft are no longer being manufactured. In the case of operators with Dash-8 turboprop aircraft fleets, like Skytrans, the key programs are built around maintenance, fleet investment and working with the OEM to deliver the significant longevity that is part of the Dash-8 aircraft value proposition.

Aircraft with 30 to 50-seat capacity remain essential for serving many regional and remote communities as well as mining, FIFO and other regional charter operations. These regional routes are often long in distance and few in passenger numbers. With limited new aircraft options capable of meeting the same capacity and operating requirements OEM-supported Dash 8 aircraft remain highly suitable for the long-term viability of Australian regional connectivity” states Skytrans CEO Gytis Gumuliauskas.

Australia’s ageing turboprop fleet is a challenge. But, the dividing line is not simply between old and new aircraft, it is between aircraft with a credible long-term support pathway, like the Dash-8 and those moving towards end-of-life status brought on by limitations in spare part supply chains, or with high capital requirements to refurbish components like engines.

For Skytrans Australia, the continued support of the Dash-8 platform provides greater certainty when planning future regional capacity. It does not remove the eventual need for fleet renewal, but it means replacement decisions can be self-funded from operating cash accruals based on the aircraft’s actual technical and economic condition rather than its age alone.

“Skytrans is long term sustainable and that includes a program of management to continuously upgrade our Dash-8 aircraft fleet,” Gumuliauskas says.