Deutsche Aircraft has signed a deal with charter airline Private Wings for the delivery of five D328eco aircraft.
The D328eco is a 40-seat turboprop aircraft developed from the Dornier 328 that claims to offer the lowest fuel consumption and carbon emissions on the market.
The agreement – which comes in the form of a letter of intent (LoI) – was announced during a ceremony at Leipzig/Halle Airport, where Deutsche Aircraft is building a final assembly line for the D328eco. The company says the aircraft will be able to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 95%.
The D328eco is also designed to operate on short and unpaved runways in challenging weather conditions, opening up new routes for regional connectivity. The aircraft features a modern flight deck and new engines in the form of the Pratt & Whitney PW127XT-S.
Peter Gatz, the chief executive of Private Wings, said the D328eco was a natural step forward for his company, which already operates ten Dornier 328 aircraft (nine turboprops and one 328 JET), the predecessor of the D328eco. Private Wings specialises in corporate shuttles and charter flights for events and sports teams.
“On the occasion of the ground-breaking ceremony for our final assembly line, it gives us great pleasure to announce that Private Wings, an established German operator and current operator of the D328 family of aircraft, is our first customer for the new D328eco. This partnership is not only an important milestone, but also a clear sign of our long-standing operator's commitment to the D328 fleet,” remarked Anastasija Visnakova, vice president of sales and marketing at Deutsche Aircraft. “Deutsche Aircraft will continue to support the long-term business goals of sustainable growth and versatile operations at Private Wings,” she added.
Deutsche Aircraft is a joint venture between American engineering firm Sierra Nevada Corporation and 328 Support Services GmbH, the owner of the Dornier 328 type certificate. The company aims to deliver the first D328eco in 2025.
