CemAir (5Z, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) has taken delivery of its first Dash 8-400/Q400. Formerly G-JECH with flybe. (2002) (Exeter), ZS-DHD (msn 4103) was positioned to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo from Toronto Pearson via Gander, Santa Maria, PT, Tenerife Sur, and Accra earlier this week.

The carrier has since announced that it has firmed up a Letter of Intent for two Q400s signed with Bombardier Aerospace (BBA, Montréal Trudeau) during this year's Paris Airshow. In addition, it has now ordered a further two of the type. In total, inclusive of this leased delivery, CemAir expects to operate a toal of five Q400s.

CemAir's fleet currently entails fourteen CRJ100s, three CRJ200s, one CRJ900, one Dash 8-100, two Dash 8-300s, and nine Beech 1900Ds. In addition to ACMI/charter operations, it also offers scheduled passenger flights to destinations across South Africa.

The carrier's CEO, Miles van der Molen, said the Q400s would be used to expand CemAir's reach into neighbouring countries.

"We see the Q400 as the ideal growth solution for our scheduled and charter operations as we continue to strengthen our relationship with Bombardier," he said in a statement. "We are working to expand our scheduled operations beyond South Africa and continuing to support new opportunities across the continent."