Where it fits well
- 360 kt cruise supports fast regional travel.
- 1100 nm advertised range creates a practical planning radius of about 737 nm with 4 occupants.
- 8424 kg realistic payload proxy and 82 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 | 82 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 8424 kg |
| Advertised range | 1100 nm |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 737 nm |
| Cruise speed | 360 kt |
| Runway need | ~1277 m |
| Pressurised | Yes |
| Fuel | Jet A-1 |
| Fixed annual base | €371k |
| Direct cost per flight hour | €4450 |
The ownership trade-off
The Q400 combines 80-seat turboprop capability with about 1,667 NM reported range and about 350 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 €588k per year ( €14700 per flight hour all-in)
- 80 hours/year: about €766k per year ( €9575 per flight hour all-in)
- 120 hours/year: about €944k per year ( €7867 per flight hour all-in)
- 180 hours/year: about €1.21m per year ( €6728 per flight hour all-in)
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at €760k 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 Q400 combines 80-seat turboprop capability with about 1,667 NM reported range and about 350 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.
- €371k fixed annual planning base before flying a single hour.
- Approximate 1277 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.