In answer to increased demand for capacity in the turboprop airliner market as load factors increase, Bombardier has introduced a 90-seat configuration of its Q400 twin turboprop regional airliner–something arch-rival ATR has wanted to do for some time, the Franco-Italian manufacturer (a Airbus/Finmeccanica 50:50 joint venture) has failed to secure board approval to proceed.

The Bombardier aircraft is to be available starting with 2018 deliveries, incorporating a 2,000-pound payload increase, subject to approval. The time between A- and C-checks is also to be increased, from 600 cycles to 800, and from 6,000 to 8,000 flight hours.

Bombardier already offers a high-density Q400, first delivered to Thailand’s Nok Air in August 2014. That version had the forward starboard-side baggage door replaced by a passenger door, and its galley/wardrobe space was rearranged to accommodate 86 seats with 29-in pitch. 

Separately, Air Canada boosted Bombardier's CSeries narrowbody program by signing a contract late Wednesday (Singapore time) for up to 75 of the twinjets.