Skyward Express Adds a Dash 8 Q400 to its Fleet

Skyward Express has expanded its fleet with the addition of a Bombardier DHC-8-400. This new aircraft will have the registration 5Y-SKM.

The Dash 8 Q400 can carry 76 passengers in a single class setup. It has a range of up to 2,400 Km (1,500 miles). It is a twin engine turboprop aircraft that is powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A engines.

This will be the 4th Dash 8 in Skyward Express’ fleet with the others being a De Havilland Canada DHC-8-300 (5Y-SMK) that it acquired in 2015, DHC-8-100 (5Y-DAC) it acquired in 2021 and a DHC-8-100 (5Y-ENA) it acquired in 2023.

The new Bombardier DHC-8-400 is larger than the De Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8 and is part of the new aircrafts manufactured by  de Havilland Canada after it was acquired by Bombardier.

The DHC-8-400 has imrpoved noise reduction and passenger capacity which make it a strategic and important acquisition for Skyward Express.

This is also the first QC (quick change) configuration certified by the manufacturer, allowing for easy conversion between passenger and cargo operations.

Most of the other aircrafts in Skyward Express’ fleet include Fokker 50, Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 aircrafts. These fly the 10 destinations served by Skyward Express from Wilson Airport in Nairobi. They include Malindi, Lodwar, Nairobi, Eldoret, Lamu, Mombasa, Kakamega, Ukunda, Kitale and Migori. According to the company’s website, it will soon start flights to Garissa and Siaya. The company also has a cargo hub at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.

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