Regional aircraft are to be built at Leipzig/Halle Airport in the future. A final assembly line for the D328eco regional aircraft has been built on an area approximately the size of eight football fields, as the aircraft manufacturer Deutsche Aircraft announced. Up to 48 aircraft can be built per year.
The first D328eco test aircraft, assembled in Schkeuditz near Leipzig, is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2027. Passenger aircraft will then be built in series from 2028. According to the company, the investment amount amounts to more than 100 million euros and around 250 new jobs were created.
Designed for 40 passengers - small planes more economical
The turboprop aircraft - a propeller-driven, turbine-powered regional aircraft - is designed for around 40 passengers and consumes significantly less fuel on short routes than larger jets. The new machine is designed for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), which in the overall balance from production cause significantly less CO2 than conventional kerosene.
Today, machines that are too large are often used on short-haul flights, said site manager Sebastian Böhnl from Deutsche Aircraft. Smaller aircraft are significantly more economical for these routes. “The need for regional airlines is there.”
The concept is: Instead of fewer flights with large aircraft, more direct connections with smaller aircraft could be created - often as feeders to international hubs. Smaller airports would also benefit from this. The smaller and more efficient aircraft should make the routes economical again.
Initial discussions with the Ministry of Defense
The possible market goes beyond classic regional airlines. “There are already initial discussions with the defense and interior ministries about possible use,” said the director of business development, military and security at Deutsche Aircraft, Markus Hahner. For several years now, the U.S. has been using Air Force the predecessor to transport material or recover the wounded. “It is a short-takeoff aircraft that can also land and take off on unpaved runways.” The plane is also suitable for border surveillance or as a fire-fighting aircraft.
The current opening marks the return of aircraft production to Saxony and a significant milestone for the D328eco program, said Nico Neumann, CEO of Deutsche Aircraft. “Building on Dornier’s pioneering spirit, this milestone strengthens the resilience, competitiveness and technological sovereignty of Germany as an aviation location.”
According to the aircraft manufacturer, Leipzig/Halle will in future be the center for aircraft assembly and delivery to international customers. Development, flight testing and certification remain in Oberpfaffenhofen in Upper Bavaria.
For Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer, the opening of the final assembly line underlines the importance of Saxony as an efficient industrial and aviation location with a future. “Investments like those from Deutsche Aircraft strengthen our aviation industry, create highly qualified jobs and increase the attractiveness of Saxony for international industrial projects,” emphasized the CDU politician in a video message.
The concept: more direct connections with smaller aircraft
Aviation expert Hartmut Fricke certainly sees a future in smaller, more economical aircraft. Modern regional aircraft “could achieve a renaissance in transport,” the professor of technology and logistics in air transport at the Technical University of Dresden told the German Press Agency. The classic short-haul flight with large jets is no longer profitable for many airlines. At the same time, rail and road have recently lost their reliability. The search for quick connections between smaller cities is therefore “higher than it has been for a long time”.
