LAM Q400s

[grjplanes]

Apparently one of these birds is already in the paintshop and will enter service with LAM soon. Now, I remember 3 or 4 months ago they ordered these birds, but are they actually brand new, or is it second-hand (ex SAS?) Or are they getting interim ones before getting new ones? Or/and are they just interim before they E-190s arrive? What are they replacing, 737s or J-41 or additional? What routes to be flown first, to JNB maybe?

[warnerbrothers]

They are both coming from SAS. The E-190 are due to attach late summer next year. The 41 is going and they will return the 732's when the leases come up, they may keep one for cargo ?

Good luck to them

[cigar]

Both are ex-SAS birds (as said above), C9-AUL is ex LN-RDC of SAS Commuter while C9-AUM is ex LN-RDE also of SAS Commuter. Are they being painted in JNB?

[grjplanes]

Okay let me get this straight...the Q400s is replacing J-41, while the E-190 is replacing 737s?

Have found that Q400 will be doing 3 weekly JNB-Beira, in January still the J-41 is also used still to Inhambane and Vilanculous, probably till the 2nd one arrives?

[cigar]

I saw one of the fully-painted LAM Q400s (couldn't catch the reg) sitting outside the Safair hangar today. Anyone knwo when she enters service / going for some test flights?

[grjplanes]

I think for JNB, it will start the 3 weekly JNB-Beira flights from 22 December...Mon,Wed,Fri.
Two new types for different airlines entering service around that time...the SAX CRJ-700 is also entering then!