De Havilland Dash 8-400 Guide: Seats, Specs, Safety & Range

Anyone who’s flown on a regional turboprop knows the trade-off: you give up cabin space for the ability to land almost anywhere, and the De Havilland Dash 8-400 bends that trade-off further than most, packing up to 90 passengers into a frame that still fits short runways. It’s the highest-capacity turboprop on the market and also the fastest, with a cruise speed 30% ahead of conventional models — a combination that makes it a serious contender for routes that jets can’t serve economically.

Passenger capacity: up to 90 ·
Cruise speed: 30% faster than conventional turboprops ·
Range: 40% more range than conventional turboprops ·
Engine type: Pratt & Whitney PW150A turboprop ·
First flight: January 31, 1998 ·
Units produced: over 600 (all Dash 8 variants)

How many seats does a Dash 8-400 have?

The Dash 8-400 can carry up to 90 passengers in a single-class high-density layout (De Havilland Canada Spec Sheet). Most operators choose a standard configuration of 78 to 86 seats, balancing capacity with passenger comfort.

Typical seating configuration for Dash 8-400

• Standard interior: 82 seats at 30-inch pitch (De Havilland Canada Spec Sheet)
• Optional dual-class: 74 seats
• Porter Airlines configures 78 seats in a 2×2 layout across 20 rows (Porter Airlines)

Maximum certified passenger capacity

• Up to 90 passengers in a single-class layout (De Havilland Canada Spec Sheet)
• Seat width on Porter: 43 cm (17 in) (Porter Airlines)
• Uses TiSeat E2 from Expliseat, the world’s lightest aircraft seat (according to Porter Airlines)

Does a Dash 8 have a toilet?

Yes, the Dash 8-400 is equipped with a lavatory. The standard placement is at the rear of the cabin, though some operators add a forward lavatory in certain configurations.

Lavatory facilities on the Dash 8-400

• Standard rear lavatory (Porter Airlines)
• Located at the rear of the cabin
• May include a forward lavatory in select airline layouts

Location and size of onboard restroom

• Rear lavatory is typical; exact dimensions vary by airline specification
• Some operators add a forward lavatory for crew or premium passengers
• No published dimensions, but adequate for standard use

Is the De Havilland DHC 8 400 safe?

The Dash 8-400 holds an excellent safety record and is certified by Transport Canada and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Its design includes redundant systems and advanced avionics.

Safety record of the Dash 8-400

• Excellent overall safety record (based on operational history across over 70 operators)
• HEPA-filtered air refreshed every four minutes (Porter Airlines)
• Survivability in crash scenarios: the high-wing design provides a protective “cage” structure

Common safety features and certifications

• Advanced avionics including autopilot and flight management system (De Havilland Canada Spec Sheet)
• Meets ICAO Annex 16 Chapter 14 noise standards (De Havilland Canada Spec Sheet)
• CO2 emission intensity 72.4 g/ASK (De Havilland Canada Spec Sheet)

Is the Dash 8 a good plane?

For airlines, yes: it has the lowest unit cost among turboprops and operates from runways as short as 1,268 meters (De Havilland Canada Spec Sheet). For passengers, comfort depends on the airline’s seat pitch and configuration.

Operational efficiency and reliability

• 30% faster cruise speed than conventional turboprops (De Havilland Canada Official Site)
• 40% more range than conventional turboprops (De Havilland Canada Official Site)
• Reliable in harsh environments — proven in Canadian winters and remote regions

Passenger comfort and noise levels

• Quiet cabin design with Q400 active noise control (varies by operator)
• Seat width 43 cm (17 in) on Porter (Porter Airlines)
• Overhead bins for carry-on luggage

What is the range and speed of the Dash 8-400?

The Dash 8-400 cruises at 360 knots (666 km/h) and has a maximum range of 1,124 nautical miles (2,082 km) under full passenger load (De Havilland Canada Spec Sheet). Those numbers make it the fastest and longest-legged turboprop in its class.

Cruise speed and typical range

• Cruise speed: 360 knots (De Havilland Canada Spec Sheet)
• Full passenger range: 2,037 km (1,100 nm) with 102 kg per passenger (De Havilland Canada Spec Sheet)
• Maximum altitude: 7,620 m (25,000 ft) (De Havilland Canada Spec Sheet)

Comparison with other regional turboprops

• 40% more range than conventional turboprops (De Havilland Canada Official Site)
• 30% faster cruise speed than conventional turboprops (De Havilland Canada Official Site)
• Highest capacity (up to 90 seats) among turboprops (De Havilland Canada Official Site)

Spec table

Eight key measurements that define the Dash 8-400’s capabilities, drawn from the manufacturer’s official spec sheet.

Pros and cons of the Dash 8-400

What’s clear and what’s not

Quotes from the industry

“The Dash 8-400 offers the highest capacity turboprop on the market with the lowest unit cost and the fastest cruise speeds.”

— De Havilland Canada, Official product page

“Our Dash 8-400 aircraft provide 78 seats in a 2×2 layout, with seat width of 43 centimetres and a spacious cabin.”

— Porter Airlines, Fleet page

For carriers like WestJet and Icelandair, the Dash 8-400 is the backbone of regional fleets. The pattern: airlines that need to serve short runways with high passenger loads find few alternatives that match the Dash 8-400’s combination of speed, range, and capacity.

Summary

The De Havilland Dash 8-400 is not just a bigger turboprop — it’s a fundamentally different tool for regional aviation. It flies faster, farther, and carries more passengers than any other turboprop on the market. For airlines operating thin routes from short runways, the Dash 8-400 enables frequencies and capacities that would otherwise require a jet subsidy. The catch: passengers trade personal space for connectivity, and that trade-off is only worth it if the airline invests in a reasonable seat pitch. For operators like Porter, the dash 8-400 is a clear win. For the passenger, it’s a reminder that getting there fast and getting there comfortably are not always the same thing. For airlines in the United Kingdom or Europe considering regional expansion, the choice is clear: adopt the Dash 8-400 and gain speed and range, or stick with conventional turboprops and accept a slower, shorter network.

Frequently asked questions