Turboprop Aircraft as part of the fleet of European Legacy Carriers
6 December 2024
With the phase out its six 72-seat Dash 8 turboprop aircraft during the first half of next year, Croatia Airlines begins to transition to a single-type Airbus A220 fleet. This fleet adjustment is a further example of the recent development European legacy carriers getting rid off turboprop aircraft.
In January 2023 Polish national airline LOT operated its last turboprop flight, Austrian Airlines provided its last turboprop flight in May 2021. Both carriers operated Bombardier Dash 8-400 aircraft as well. These airlines predominantly want to lower costs per passenger by using larger aircraft and mitigate slot restrictions at airports among other factors like travel experience.
This change occurs despite availability and economical advantages of such aircraft types as well as operational requirements due to airport restrictions. Further, this development raises the question, which European national airlines still provide turboprop aircraft in their respective fleets. Let‘s take a closer look at the European markets.
In case of Finland, Finnair does not operate any turboprop flights by itself. The airline cooperates with Nordic Regional Airlines and regional flights are offered under the brand „Norra“ with ATR aircraft.
In former times provided by Aer Arann and Stobart Air, Emerald Airlines was awarded to operate flights under the brand „Aer Lingus Regional“ in 2022. Regional flights are provided by ATR aircraft on behalf of Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus. Like Finnair, Aer Lingus‘ own fleet does not consist of any turboprop aircraft.
In Spain some regional flights of Iberia are covered by its partner Air Nostrum. Here, ATR aircraft are used under the brand „Iberia Regional“.
In contrast to the examples explained before, the fleet of TAROM, the national airline of Romania, consists of a mix of turboprop and jet aircraft. ATR aircraft are used to provide domestic and regional flights from its hub in Bucharest Otopeni.
As for TAROM, turboprop aircraft play the same vital role for Air Serbia. Besides jets, ATR aircraft (in total 10) are as well used on regional flights providing direct and feeder service to its hub in Belgrade.
Further south in Greece, Aegean Airlines more or the less became the national airline of the country by taking over former national carrier Olympic Air in 2013. Since then, Olympic Air provides domestic and regional flights with Bombardier Dash 8 and ATR aircraft as a subsidiary of Aegean Airlines.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines acts as the national airline of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The airline does not provide any turboprop aircraft by itself. This will change by beginning of 2025 as a wet-lease agreement with Swedish regional airline BRA becomes effective to cover domestic routes within Sweden mostly.
Luxair of Luxemburg belongs to the few national airlines with its own turboprop equipment. More than 11 Bombardier Dash 8-400 aircraft support its operations along Boeing narrowbody aircraft.
Finally, Iceland provides a further rare example of a national carrier which contains turboprop aircraft in its fleet: Icelandair. In 2021 regional carrier Flugfelag Islands was fully integrated into Icelandair whereas the former airline provided flights under the brand „Air Iceland Connect“. Today Icelandair‘s turboprop fleet consists of 6 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft.
As acknowledged by the carriers listed above, the majority of European national airlines does not offer turboprop flights by themselves. Among them are e.g. Air France, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Swiss Int. Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, and Turkish Airlines. In this context it should be noted, that several European countries don‘t have a national carrier (anymore). Bosnia-Herzegovina, Czechia, Hungary, Moldova, North Macedonia, Slovakia, and Slovenia belong to this group of countries. Low-Cost-Carriers took advantage of this possibility and gained major market shares in these markets.
It should be further noted, that a renunciation of the turboprop ban took place, namely in Austria. After a hiatus of 3 years, Austrian Airlines became aware that the demand is not high enough to operate all routes with large jet aircraft. A wet-lease agreement with Swedish airline BRA came into effect in 2024 which help the Austrian flag carrier to offer low density routes as well for the needed feed of its hub in Vienna. This makes the Austrian carrier the only airline within the Lufthansa Group to provide turboprop aircraft (again).
Therefore „true“ European legacy carriers with turboprop aircraft are limited to Air Serbia, Icelandair, Luxair, and TAROM.
What‘s your opinion regarding this latest development? Is it all about costs, has it something to do with travel experience, etc? Please let know here.
Photo by Racool_studio