Ryukyu Air Commuter (RAC), a subsidiary of Japan Airlines, has become the first customer to take delivery of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft’s Q400 turboprop combi, the first of five ordered by RAC. The cargo-passenger configuration was first revealed at the 2014 Farnborough Airshow.
Takashi Irei, president of RAC, said the Q400 is well-suited to delivery cargo and passengers throughout the archipelago of Japan. “Increasing efficient air travel options around Japan’s Okinawa Islands will provide strong economic and leisure advantages,” he said.
The Q400 cargo-combi, manufactured at Bombardier’s facility in Toronto, is the only commercial turboprop available offering various configurations. The highest payload capacity is 4.1 tonnes of cargo and up to 33 cubic meters of cargo volume. In this configuration, the aircraft can then comfortably accommodate 50 passengers. The Q400 combi can also be configured with up to 86 seats and less cargo.
Additionally, the aircraft offers a 30 percent reduction in fuel burn and reduces carbon emissions, compared to the regional jets it often replaces. Bombardier said it has firm orders for 547 of the Q400 aircraft.