Indicative 2010 market range$7.38m (€6.83m) to $8.82m (€8.17m)
Fixed annual planning base$401k (€371k)
Direct hourly planning cost$4,806 (€4,450) / h
A Bombardier / De Havilland Dash 8-400 (Q400) costs approximately $7.38m (€6.83m) to $8.82m (€8.17m) to buy at 2010 market values. Owning one and flying 80 hours a year costs roughly $827k (€766k) annually, about $10,341 (€9,575) per flight hour all-in, made up of a $401k (€371k) fixed annual base plus $4,806 (€4,450) per hour flown. Over five years, purchase and operating costs total around $12.15m (€11.25m) before financing, depreciation and tax.
Ownership scenarios
Indicative cash costs before financing, depreciation and tax.
Annual use
Annual cash cost
Effective cost / h
Five-year cash outlay
40 h / year
$635k (€588k)
$15,876 (€14,700)
$11.19m (€10.36m)
80 h / year
$827k (€766k)
$10,341 (€9,575)
$12.15m (€11.25m)
120 h / year
$1.02m (€944k)
$8,496 (€7,867)
$13.12m (€12.14m)
180 h / year
$1.31m (€1.21m)
$7,266 (€6,728)
$14.56m (€13.48m)
What drives the real price?
Airframe and engine time, maintenance history, damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment can move a real transaction well outside a model-level estimate. A cheaper example with deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft after the first annual inspection.
What is included?
PlaneFit combines an annual fixed-cost base with a direct hourly estimate. The result is intended for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation scenarios. It is not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
The Dash 8-400 (Q400) combines 82-seat turboprop capability with about 1,100 NM reported range and about 360 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.
Test your own utilisation
The scenarios above assume 80 hours a year. This calculator opens on the Bombardier / De Havilland Dash 8-400 (Q400) figures so you can change the hours, or any of the inputs, and see what it does to the cost per hour.
Estimated annual cash cost€727,000
Effective cost per flight hour€9,088
Five-year operating cash€3,635,000
Prefer to work from fuel burn and maintenance reserve separately? Use the operating cost calculator.
Common questions about Bombardier / De Havilland Dash 8-400 (Q400) costs
How much does a Bombardier / De Havilland Dash 8-400 (Q400) cost to buy?
An indicative 2010 market range for a Bombardier / De Havilland Dash 8-400 (Q400) is $7.38m (€6.83m) to $8.82m (€8.17m). Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics and equipment move real transactions well outside a model-level estimate.
What does a Bombardier / De Havilland Dash 8-400 (Q400) cost per year to own?
Flying 80 hours a year, budget roughly $827k (€766k) in annual cash costs, which works out at about $10,341 (€9,575) per flight hour all-in. That covers a $401k (€371k) fixed annual base plus $4,806 (€4,450) per hour of direct operating cost.
What does five years of Bombardier / De Havilland Dash 8-400 (Q400) ownership cost?
Purchase plus five years of operating cost at 80 hours a year comes to approximately $12.15m (€11.25m) in cash terms, before financing, depreciation and tax.
_boarding_at_Vienna_Airport,_Austria_(DSC_0003).jpg)