DE HAVILLAND PAUSES DASH 8-400 PRODUCTION

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. said on Wednesday it will pause new Dash 8-400 turboprop production beyond existing confirmed orders at the company's Downsview site in Toronto, as the coronavirus weighs on aircraft sales. The production pause will affect about 500 employees, privately held De Havilland said. The company delivered 11 Dash 8 aircraft to customers in 2020. “De Havilland Canada's objective is to resume new aircraft delivery at the earliest possible time, subject to market demand,” the company said. De Havilland Canada is currently leasing the Downsview facility, which was previously owned by Bombardier. Meanwhile, the Downsview lease is set to expire in 2021, and De Havilland Canada has “begun preparing to leave the site over the latter part of the year,” the firm said.