Where it fits well
- 271 kt cruise supports fast regional travel.
- 1689 nm advertised range creates a practical planning radius of about 1132 nm with 4 occupants.
- 5040 kg realistic payload proxy and 50 seats define the usable cabin mission.
_boarding_at_Vienna_Airport,_Austria_(DSC_0003).jpg)
Photo: Trougnouf · CC BY 4.0 · representative variantKey figures
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 50 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 5040 kg |
| Advertised range | 1689 nm |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 1132 nm |
| Cruise speed | 271 kt |
| Runway need | ~1000 m |
| Pressurised | Yes |
| Fuel | Jet A-1 |
| Fixed annual base | €295k |
| Direct cost per flight hour | €2580 |
The ownership trade-off
The Dash 8-300 combines 58-seat turboprop capability with about 1,689 NM reported range and about 271 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.
Cost picture at different usage
- 40 hours/year: about €509k per year ( €12718 per flight hour all-in)
- 80 hours/year: about €612k per year ( €7649 per flight hour all-in)
- 120 hours/year: about €715k per year ( €5959 per flight hour all-in)
- 180 hours/year: about €870k per year ( €4833 per flight hour all-in)
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at €534k per year at 80 hours. Condition, engine time remaining and avionics matter more than the year itself — price the aircraft in front of you, not the model.
Limitations to price honestly
- The Dash 8-300 combines 58-seat turboprop capability with about 1,689 NM reported range and about 271 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.
- €295k fixed annual planning base before flying a single hour.
- Approximate 1000 m take-off requirement must be checked against runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading.
Recommended missions
- Family and small-group touring with a weight-and-balance check for every trip.
- Longer regional missions, with reserves and payload reducing brochure range.
- Time-sensitive business travel where dispatch reliability justifies the cost.