De Havilland Canada Receives First Firm Order for Dash 8 Q400
PR Newswire

Turboprop manufacturer De Havilland Canada, the new owner of the Dash 8 Q400 program, has announced that it has secured its first firm order for the Q400 since acquiring the program in June. The new order is for one aircraft from existing Q400 operator Air Tanzania. The Canadian manufacturer’s parent company Longview Aviation Capital purchased the type certificate for the Q400 program from Bombardier, along with other type certificates formerly under the De Havilland brand, such as the DHC-6 Twin Otter.

Opening Of The Maldives’ New Seaplane Terminal Delayed 
HMG Aerospace

The Maldivian government says it has not decided which companies will be involved in the leasing of the new seaplane terminal in Male, denying reports claiming it has leased the terminal to Trans Maldivian Airways. It says the terminal’s opening has been delayed from last month to the end of the year. Trans Maldivian is the largest seaplane operator in the world with 53 aircraft, and was previously one of just two seaplane operators in the Maldives alongside the national carrier, Maldivian Airlines. But two other Maldivian operators, Flyme and Manta Air, have recently decided to enter the seaplane business.

ATR Launches Super STOL Variant
Flight Global

Regional turboprop manufacturer ATR has launched a short takeoff and landing (STOL) variant of its ATR 42-600 aircraft. Called the ATR 42-600S, the 40-seat aircraft will be able to operate from runways as short as 800m and will offer the same operating costs as aircraft in the 30-seat range, ATR says.

Deliveries of the ATR 42-600S will begin in the second half of 2022, with some 20 orders committed to so far, ATR says. Known orders include two aircraft to launch customer Air Tahiti, it adds.

Sri Lanka’s Jaffna International Airport Receives First Short-haul International Flight
Daily Financial Times

Sri Lanka’s Jaffna International Airport has received its first short-haul international flight since being upgraded from a dual-use airport serving domestic charter operators and the military. Local reports say Air India subsidiary Alliance Air is expected to be the first scheduled airline to use the airport and will fly ATR 72-600s between Chennai and Jaffa three times a week from November. Sri Lanka’s government wants the airport to serve other Indian airports in the near future, the reports add.

Jaffna International Airport lies on the northernmost tip of Sri Lanka, and is about 300km north of the capital, Colombo.

Air New Zealand Increases Regional Services Following Jetstar’s Exit
New Zealand Herald

Air New Zealand says it will be ramping up regional services in the coming months following Jetstar’s planned withdrawal from several regional markets in New Zealand by November. Starting from December, the flag carrier will add services between Auckland and Napier, New Plymouth, Nelson and Palmerston North, as well as between Wellington and Nelson, it adds.

Jetstar announced that it will withdraw all services to the four regional destinations. These destinations are currently served by Qantas Airways-owned Eastern Australian Airlines which operates Bombardier Dash 8 Q300s on behalf of Jetstar.