Clarifying its previously announced plans to increase the seating capacity of the base Q400 aircraft, Bombardier revealed that it would gain the additional interior space needed by converting the airplane’s forward baggage door into a passenger exit. A new interior design would also replace some of the aircraft’s cargo capacity with as much as another row and a half of passenger seats which would raise the Q400’s total seating capacity to 86 seats.
Bombardier will also have to limit seat pitch to 29 inches in order to fit 86 seats into the cabin, but if the seating capacity is reduced to 82 seats then a 30-inch seat pitch is possible.
Thai carrier Nok Air has signed an agreement to be the launch customer for the new Q400 option with a firm order for two Q400s with an option for another two aircraft. The airline also reserved purchase rights for four more airplanes. Nok Air plans to replace its ATR 72-500s with the larger Q400 aircraft.
