Turboprop Flights Exceed 800 Miles Across Europe This December

December sees an interesting trend in European aviation as turboprop flights expand beyond their traditional short-haul routes. According to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, there are currently 45 scheduled turboprop flights this month that cover distances exceeding 800 miles (1,287.5 km). This shift highlights the versatility and growing role of turboprop aircraft in longer travel segments.

Noteworthy Long-Distance Routes

Among these flights, two notable one-off routes serve Malta (MLA). The longest, at 1,038 miles (1,670.5 km), will be operated by Luxair on December 20, connecting Luxembourg (LUX) to Malta. This service, utilizing a 76-seat Dash 8-Q400, is scheduled for two round trips, with block times of three hours and 10 minutes for outbound flights and three hours and 35 minutes for the return.

The second significant route is a round trip from Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden (FKB) in Germany, also to Malta. Luxwing will operate this service on December 28 with similar aircraft. Passengers can expect block times around two hours for this 949-mile (1,527.3 km) journey.

Luxair highlights the advantages of its Dash 8 fleet for these longer trips. In a statement regarding their operations, the airline noted: “This model has greater flexibility for take-off and landing over short distances, making it the most suitable and efficient aircraft for developing our destinations network across most of Europe.”

Regular Services and Additional Routes

In addition to the one-off flights, Luxair maintains a regularly scheduled service exceeding 800 miles to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN). This route, covering 836 miles (1,345.4 km), is set for ten flights each way throughout December. The Dash 8-Q400 will operate on Fridays and Sundays, with additional services on December 23 and 30. Block times for these flights are approximately two hours and 45 minutes.

The configuration of Luxair’s Dash 8-Q400 aircraft is designed for flexibility, accommodating 76 seats in a two-class layout. This allows the airline to manage varying business class demands effectively.

Other airlines in Europe are also participating in this trend. Medavia operates a weekly Iberia Regional service from Gran Canaria (LPA) to Melilla (MLN), a Spanish exclave in northern Africa. These flights cover 889 miles (1,430.7 km) and have block times that can reach four hours.

In the northern regions, two airlines are providing turboprop services between Nuuk (GOH) in Greenland and Reykjavík–Keflavík Airport (KEF) in Iceland. Icelandair plans three round trips near the end of the month, also using the Dash 8-400, with block times of up to two hours and 45 minutes. Air Greenland will operate smaller Dash 8-200 aircraft on four flights from Keflavík to Nuuk, with one return trip. The block times for Air Greenland’s flights can reach three hours and 20 minutes.

This expansion in turboprop operations across Europe not only enhances connectivity but also showcases the evolving capabilities of these aircraft in serving longer distances efficiently. As airlines adapt to changing travel demands, it will be interesting to see how this trend develops in the future.