Private jet Bombardier Dash 8 DHC8-300 A
Groups of 30-50 people, sports teams, music tours, corporate seminars, weddings with distant guests
From
£8,000
Capacity
Up to 50 pax
Specifications
Performance
Max passengers
50
Max range
1 711 km
Cruise speed
531 km/h
Top speed
531 km/h
Minimum runway
1 178 m
Baggage volume
11.5 m³
Cabin & Comfort
Cabin dimensions
18.69 m
Length
2.51 m
Width
1.95 m
Height
Onboard amenities
Book a flight in Bombardier Dash 8 DHC8-300 A
The Bombardier Dash 8 DHC8-300 A is the benchmark regional turboprop for group private charter. 50 passengers, two Pratt & Whitney PW123 engines and 900 nm of range let professional sports teams, music tours or wedding parties fly together privately for a per-passenger cost lower than a regular business class ticket.
The Bombardier Dash 8 DHC8-300 A is the most-used twin-engine regional turboprop in the world for group private charter. Built by De Havilland Canada (integrated into Bombardier and then back into De Havilland Canada Limited) from 1989, the 300-series is the second generation of the Dash 8 family, with more than 1,200 deliveries. The DHC8-300 « A » designates the original production variant, before the Q300 (1995, with noise-suppression system) and NextGen evolutions. It is the aircraft of choice for professional sports teams, music tours, corporate seminars and weddings with distant guests.
The Dash 8 DHC8-300 A cabin (18.69 m × 2.51 m × 1.95 m) can be configured for 30 to 50 seats depending on the operator and the level of service. Premium charter configurations offer 32-36 leather seats with generous aisle, folding tables, 110 V outlets and Wi-Fi available. « Music tour » configurations often include a rear lounge zone with U-shaped sofas and a central meeting table. The 1.95 m cabin height (stand-up) and 2.51 m width (two seats + aisle + one seat) make it a truly comfortable regional aircraft, where a King Air or a Citation would be cramped for a 30-person team.
With 900 nm (1,711 km) of range at 531 km/h cruise, the Dash 8 DHC8-300 A covers Paris-Marseille, London-Edinburgh, Madrid-Barcelona, Munich-Rome or Geneva-Athens (with refuelling stop). Its 1,178 m minimum runway remains compatible with most European regional airports. Operators typically bill £8,000 to £11,500 per hour, which brings the cost per passenger to £85-£130 per hour with 40-50 guests on board — less than a regular business-class ticket, with all the door-to-door advantages of private flying: choice of departure time, VIP terminal, unlimited baggage, group boarding.
Practical information
- Category: Twin-engine regional turboprop — groups of 30-50 people
- Range: 1,711 km (900 nm) — London-Paris, Madrid-Barcelona, Geneva-Rome non-stop
- Cruise speed: 531 km/h (287 kt) — close to a King Air 350
- Minimum runway: 1,178 m — compatible with nearly all regional airports
- Cabin: 18.69 m × 2.51 m × 1.95 m — stand-up, 30-50 passengers, lounge zone possible
- Equipment: leather seats, tables, optional Wi-Fi, lavatory, large 11.5 m³ hold
- Indicative price: £8,000 to £11,500 per hour; ~£85-£130 per passenger-hour at 40 people
- Empty legs: Rare (on-demand group charter), mostly regional operators
Frequently asked questions about the Bombardier Dash 8 DHC8-300 A
A Dash 8 DHC8-300 A charter costs between <strong>£8,000 and £11,500 per hour</strong>. For a Paris-Marseille with 40 guests, count on around <strong>£9,500 to £12,000</strong> one-way — under £300 per passenger. For a Geneva-Athens (with possible refuelling stop), count on <strong>£28,000 to £35,000</strong>. It is the most economical private transport mode per passenger-kilometre, below a commercial business-class ticket for groups of 30 people or more.
The Dash 8 DHC8-300 A is certified for <strong>50 to 56 passengers</strong> depending on operator and configuration. In premium private charter, common configurations are <strong>30-36 leather seats</strong> with generous spacing, folding tables and a rear lounge area. It is the benchmark aircraft for professional sports teams (squad + staff = 35-50 people), music tours (band + technicians = 30-40), corporate seminars and weddings with distant guests.
The Dash 8 DHC8-300 A offers <strong>1,711 km (900 nm) of range</strong>, enough to cover London-Paris in 1 h 30, Paris-Marseille in 1 h 15, Madrid-Barcelona in 1 h, London-Edinburgh in 1 h, Munich-Rome in 2 h. For longer flights (Geneva-Athens, London-Lisbon), a 30-minute refuelling stop is needed — a compromise that remains profitable for a 30-50 person group compared with scheduled service.
The Dash 8 DHC8-300 A minimum runway is <strong>1,178 m for take-off</strong>, making it compatible with nearly all European and North American regional airports, including destinations such as Annecy, Béziers, Quimper, Brive or Trapani. It cannot land at Courchevel (537 m) or La Môle-Saint-Tropez (1,200 m, margin too tight), but it accesses over 6,000 paved regional and international airports. Its « hot & high » performance is excellent thanks to its two Pratt & Whitney PW123 engines of 2,380 shp each.
The Dash 8 DHC8-300 A cabin is <strong>the most spacious of all private-charter turboprops</strong>: 18.69 m long, 2.51 m wide, 1.95 m tall (stand-up), 11.5 m³ of hold. Premium charter configurations with leather seats, 30-32" knee space, folding tables, 110 V outlets, optional Wi-Fi, enclosed rear lavatory. A lounge area with U-shaped sofas and a central table can be fitted for tour meetings or weddings. Cabin noise is 78-82 dB thanks to four-blade Hamilton Standard propellers.
Choose the Dash 8 DHC8-300 A when your group exceeds <strong>16 people</strong>. A midsize jet such as the Citation Latitude (9 seats) costs £6,500-£10,000 per hour; flying 32 people would need 4 jets = £26,000-£40,000. A single Dash 8 makes the same trip for £9,500-£12,000. For distances over 1,200 km, however, or for smaller groups (12-16 people), a midsize or heavy jet remains faster and more comfortable door-to-door. The Dash 8 is unbeatable on cost/passenger ratio for groups ≥ 20 people on flights under 1,500 km.
