Turboprops are often employed as less glamorous regional workhorses and can offer a more fuel efficient solution for airlines than regional jets, particularly on short sectors. Turboprops can also operate from shorter and more restricted runways than jet aircraft, and in some cases are the only solution for serving remote communities.
In November 2018, Bombardier agreed to sell its Dash 8 turboprop programme, including the in-production Q400 series, to Longview Aviation Capital Corp. The fact that one of the world’s two major long-term commercial turboprop manufacturers had chosen to divest this segment of its business may have suggested to some that the outlook for future turboprop demand looked bleak.
However, far from entering a period of decline, the capacity operated by turboprops is continuing to grow.
