This article is based on an official press release from De Havilland Canada.

De Havilland Canada Delivers OEM Refurbished Dash 8-400 to TrueNoord for Nexus Airlines

On February 4, 2026, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada (DHC) announced the delivery of an OEM Refurbished Dash 8-400 to the specialist regional aircraft lessor TrueNoord. According to the company’s official statement, the aircraft is immediately being leased to Nexus Airlines, a regional carrier based in Western Australia.

This delivery underscores the growing importance of DHC’s OEM Certified Refurbishment Program. With the production of new Dash 8-400 commercial-aircraft currently paused, this program serves as a critical pipeline for operators seeking “like-new” turboprops to meet regional connectivity demands. The transaction, originally announced in September 2025, has now reached completion with the handover of the airframe.

Strengthening Regional Connectivity in Western Australia

The newly delivered aircraft will join the fleet of Nexus Airlines, a carrier launched in 2023 that serves remote and regional communities. Nexus currently holds an exclusive contract with the Western Australian Government to operate the Inter-Regional Flight Network (IRFN), connecting hubs such as Geraldton, Karratha, Port Hedland, and Broome.

In the press release, Nexus Airlines leadership emphasized that the acquisition aligns with their strategy to reinforce essential air services.

“This acquisition marks an important milestone in our fleet strategy… we are strengthening our commitment to providing reliable, community-focused air services in Western Australia.”

, Michael McConachy, Managing Director, Nexus Airlines

The Dash 8-400 is particularly well-suited for the vast distances of Western Australia, offering higher speeds and longer range compared to competitor turboprops. This capability allows Nexus to maintain efficient schedules across routes that often exceed 1,000 miles.

The Role of the OEM Certified Refurbishment Program

As the manufacturer evaluates a potential restart of the Dash 8 production line, the OEM Certified Refurbishment Program has become a primary vehicle for maintaining fleet relevance. Through this program, DHC acquires used airframes and upgrades them to current operational standards. These upgrades often include avionics modernization, cabin refurbishments, and life-extension works that can significantly prolong the airframe’s operational cycles.

Ryan DeBrusk, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at De Havilland Canada, highlighted the program’s value proposition in the official release:

“Our OEM Refurbished Program delivers high-quality aircraft designed to meet the needs of growing regional operations, while providing exceptional value, performance, and reliability.”

, Ryan DeBrusk, VP Sales & Marketing, De Havilland Canada

For lessors like TrueNoord, the program offers a way to supply clients with reliable assets that carry manufacturer backing, mitigating the risks typically associated with older used inventory.

Lessor Strategy and Market Context

TrueNoord, a specialist lessor focused on the 50–150 seat regional aircraft market, continues to expand its portfolio of Dash 8-400s. This delivery follows their acquisition of a batch of aircraft from Nordic Aviation Capital in late 2023. By utilizing the refurbishment program, TrueNoord ensures that its assets remain competitive and reliable for operators in challenging environments like Australia and Africa.

Carst Lindeboom, Director Asia Pacific for TrueNoord, noted the confidence the lessor places in the manufacturer-led refurbishment:

“The OEM Refurbished Program ensures delivery of a Dash 8-400 that is both reliable and versatile, and we are confident it will enable our customer to deliver vital air services with confidence.”

, Carst Lindeboom, Director Asia Pacific, TrueNoord

AirPro News Analysis

The Bridge to Future Production

We observe that this delivery highlights a significant trend in the regional aviation sector: the “tightness” of the high-quality turboprop market. With no new Dash 8s rolling off the line since 2022 and a backlog for competitor aircraft like the ATR 72, operators are increasingly reliant on refurbishment programs to source capacity.

While DHC has indicated that a decision regarding the restart of production (potentially in Alberta) could be made around the 2025/2026 timeframe, the Refurbishment Program effectively bridges the gap. It allows the OEM to maintain a commercial relationship with operators and lessors while preserving the asset value of the existing global fleet. For Nexus Airlines, securing a factory-refurbished unit provides operational certainty in a market where spare parts and reliable airframes are becoming premium commodities.

Sources

• De Havilland Canada

This article summarizes reporting by Reuters, Bloomberg News, and publicly available elements and industry context.

Saudia Negotiates Historic 150+ Jet Order with Boeing and Airbus

Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) is reportedly in the early stages of negotiating the largest aircraft order in its 80-year history. According to reporting by Bloomberg News and Reuters, the state-owned carrier is in discussions with aerospace giants Boeing and Airbus to acquire at least 150 narrowbody and widebody aircraft. This potential acquisition marks a significant escalation in the Kingdom’s aviation strategy under Vision 2030.

If finalized, this deal would surpass Saudia’s substantial fleet investments made in 2023 and 2024, further cementing the airline’s role in Saudi Arabia’s aggressive tourism and connectivity goals. The negotiations reportedly involve a mix of aircraft types designed to replace aging models and drastically expand capacity to meet government targets of 330 million annual passengers by the end of the decade.

Details of the Potential Order

Industry reports indicate that the airline is looking to secure a minimum of 150 jets, though specific models and the final split between manufacturers remain under discussion. The order is expected to address two primary operational needs: replacing older, less efficient airframes and facilitating rapid network expansion.

Fleet Modernization and Expansion

According to the reports, Saudia is evaluating both single-aisle (narrowbody) jets for domestic and regional routes, and twin-aisle (widebody) jets for long-haul international service. Likely candidates for retirement include the carrier’s older Airbus A320ceo models and Boeing 777-200ERs, which lack the fuel efficiency of modern alternatives like the A320neo family or the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

This move follows a pattern of aggressive fleet renewal. In 2023, Saudia placed a significant order for 39 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, followed by a 2024 agreement for 105 Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The scale of this new potential order, exceeding 150 units, suggests a shift from incremental updates to a massive capacity surge.

Manufacturer Competition

Negotiations are reportedly ongoing with both Boeing and Airbus. Industry analysts suggest the order could be split between the two or awarded based on critical factors such as delivery slot availability and pricing.

“Saudia is positioning itself to secure not just the best price, but crucially, the earliest possible delivery slots.”
, Industry Analysis via Research Report

Airbus currently dominates the narrowbody market but faces production backlogs stretching into the 2030s. Conversely, Boeing, while recovering from production and certification delays involving the 737 MAX and 777X, may have more incentive to offer aggressive pricing to stabilize its order book.

Strategic Context: Vision 2030

The driving force behind this massive capital expenditure is Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030” initiative, which aims to transform the Kingdom into a global aviation hub and a premier tourism destination. The government has set a target of attracting 150 million tourists annually by 2030.

The Dual-Hub Strategy

Saudi Arabia is pursuing a unique “dual-hub” aviation strategy. While the newly launched, Public Investment Fund-backed carrier Riyadh Air focuses on premium international business and leisure traffic from the capital, Saudia is repositioning its operations in Jeddah.

Saudia’s primary mandate under this strategy involves:

• Religious Tourism: Serving the massive influx of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, a market segment expected to see exponential growth.
• Red Sea Development: Supporting the burgeoning tourism projects along the Red Sea coast.
• Global Connectivity: Contributing to the National Aviation Strategy’s goal of connecting the Kingdom to over 250 destinations.

AirPro News Analysis

The Leverage of Scale

By negotiating for 150+ aircraft simultaneously, Saudia is exercising immense leverage in a supply-constrained market. We believe this strategy is less about brand loyalty and more about securing the “queue jumping” privileges necessary to meet 2030 deadlines. With Airbus production lines heavily booked, Saudia may be forced to lean on Boeing for widebody capacity if they require delivery before 2029, despite Boeing’s recent certification challenges.

Furthermore, this order highlights the distinct separation of roles between Saudia and Riyadh Air. Rather than shrinking in the shadow of the new national carrier, Saudia is aggressively defending its market share in the religious and regional sectors, ensuring that the “old guard” remains a central pillar of the Kingdom’s infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the estimated value of the deal?
While financial terms are private, a mixed order of 150 narrowbody and widebody jets could be valued between $15 billion and $25 billion at list prices, though airlines typically negotiate significant discounts of 40% to 50%.

When will the order be finalized?
Talks are currently described as preliminary. No final decision on specific models or quantities has been announced, and the timeline for a signed agreement remains open.

How does this affect Riyadh Air?
This order is specific to Saudia (based in Jeddah). Riyadh Air is a separate entity with its own fleet strategy, though both airlines are owned by the Saudi government and coordinate to cover different market segments.

Sources: Reuters/Bloomberg

This article summarizes reporting by The Post-Crescent and public filings from Harbor Diversified, Inc.

Air Wisconsin Assets Sold to CSI Aviation and ASL for $113.2 Million

Harbor Diversified, Inc. has completed the sale of its regional airline subsidiary, Air Wisconsin Airlines LLC, and a fleet of 25 Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft. According to reporting by The Post-Crescent and recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, the transaction is valued at approximately $113.2 million and effectively marks Harbor Diversified’s exit from the airline operating business.

The deal, finalized on January 9, 2026, splits the Airlines assets between two distinct buyers: Albuquerque-based CSI Aviation, Inc. and the Associated Lease and Finance Group, LLC (ASL). This restructuring follows a challenging year for the Appleton-based carrier, which faced significant financial headwinds after losing its long-standing capacity purchase agreement (CPA) with American Airlines in early 2025.

Transaction Details and Asset Split

The acquisition involves a strategic division of Air Wisconsin’s operational capabilities and physical assets. According to regulatory filings reviewed by AirPro News, the aggregate purchase price of roughly $113.2 million covers both the operating certificate and the owned aircraft fleet.

CSI Aviation Acquires Operations

CSI Aviation, Inc. has acquired 100% of the membership interests in Air Wisconsin Airlines LLC. This purchase grants CSI ownership of the airline’s Part 121 air carrier operating certificate, a critical asset that allows for scheduled commercial airline operations. In addition to the certificate, CSI acquired 13 of the carrier’s CRJ-200 regional jets.

CSI Aviation is a diversified aviation services company known for medical flight services, air charter, and government contracting. Industry observers note that acquiring an established Part 121 certificate allows the company to significantly expand its operational scope.

ASL Takes Remaining Fleet

The second buyer, Associated Lease and Finance Group, LLC (ASL), purchased the remaining 12 CRJ-200 aircraft. ASL specializes in aviation leasing and finance. It is common for firms in this sector to acquire aging regional jets either to lease them to other operators or to dismantle them for engines and components, which remain in high demand for maintaining other CRJ-200 fleets globally.

Context: A Turbulent Transition

The sale concludes a period of uncertainty for Air Wisconsin. For years, the airline operated exclusively as “American Eagle,” feeding traffic into American Airlines’ major hubs, particularly Chicago O’Hare. However, that relationship ended in April 2025, stripping the regional carrier of its primary revenue source.

Following the contract termination, Air Wisconsin attempted to pivot toward independent charter operations and Essential Air Service (EAS) routes. The Post-Crescent notes that the airline briefly secured an EAS contract for Parkersburg, West Virginia, in August 2025 but withdrew before service began due to the impending restructuring.

Workforce Impact

The restructuring has had a tangible impact on the airline’s workforce in Wisconsin. In late 2025, the company issued WARN notices affecting approximately 252 employees, including pilots, mechanics, and support staff at its bases in Appleton and Milwaukee.

“This sale marks the exit of Harbor Diversified from the airline operating business.”

, Research Report on Harbor Diversified SEC Filings

AirPro News Analysis

The split-sale of Air Wisconsin highlights a growing trend in the regional aviation sector: the decoupling of operating certificates from aging fleets. While the CRJ-200 is widely considered obsolete for major network carriers due to high fuel costs and passenger preference for larger dual-class regional jets, the underlying Part 121 operating certificate remains a high-value asset.

For CSI Aviation, purchasing the certificate avoids the years-long, capital-intensive process of obtaining new FAA certification from scratch. This move suggests CSI intends to scale its government and charter operations rapidly, leveraging the regulatory framework Air Wisconsin maintained for decades.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who owns Air Wisconsin now?
CSI Aviation, Inc. now owns the Air Wisconsin Airlines LLC operating certificate and brand, along with 13 aircraft. The remaining 12 aircraft were sold to Associated Lease and Finance Group (ASL).

What happened to the American Airlines contract?
The capacity purchase agreement (CPA) with American Airlines ended in April 2025. This contract was the airline’s primary source of revenue, leading to the search for a buyer.

Will Air Wisconsin continue to fly?
Under CSI Aviation ownership, the entity holds a valid operating certificate. However, its mission will likely shift from scheduled commercial regional service (like American Eagle) to charter, government, or specialized contract flying.

Sources

• The Post-Crescent
• Harbor Diversified SEC Filings