1st DHC-8-400 delivered to Sky Alps

The first DHC-8-400 for Italian start-up Sky Alps has been delivered in preparation for the airline's launch next month. The aircraft, G-ECOK (4230) started its delivery route already on 15 May from Muskoka to Halifax. On 21 May it continued from there to Goose Bay and a day later made the jump to Reykjavik. From there it flew to Bristol, where this picture was taken, and finally flew on 23 May from Bristol to Malta.

Sky Alps will not have its own AOC at this stage, but will rather wet-lease its aircraft via partner Luxwing Malta. That's why the Dash was ferried to Malta and will be registered there as 9H-BEL. A second DHC-8, G-ECOO (4237), is to follow shortly and has arrived at North Bay on 20 May in preparation for its jump across the Atlantic.

The airline has its base at Bolzano and has announced it will start flying from there to Berlin, Cagliari, Düsseldorf, Ibiza, Parma and Rome. Later on, Sky Alps eyes flights to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Milan and Vienna as well.

Photo by Ian Simpson.