Germany resumes serial production of its own regional aircraft
German Deutsche Aircraft has opened a new final assembly line for D328eco regional aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport. The company says the project is moving from development to the industrialization and serial production phase, restoring Germany's ability to complete the full cycle of regional aircraft manufacturing.
Over €100 million was invested in the new production complex. It covers 60,500 square meters and includes an assembly line, a hangar for preparing aircraft for flights, a logistics center and administrative facilities. Once at full capacity, the plant will be able to produce up to 48 aircraft per year.
The company plans to create around 250 new jobs as production ramps up. The state of Saxony also supported the project with approximately €3.2 million under a regional economic development program.
The D328eco is a 40-seat turboprop aircraft based on the Dornier 328 platform. The new version will feature modern avionics and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127XT-S engines. According to the manufacturer's calculations, fuel consumption per passenger will be about 14% lower than the previous Dornier 328, while passenger capacity will increase by 25%.
Deutsche Aircraft expects to put the D328eco into commercial service in the fourth quarter of 2027. Before that, the aircraft must complete a flight test program and undergo certification. The company unveiled the first test prototype in 2025 and in September 2026 announced a new phase of landing gear system testing.
Leipzig will be responsible for final assembly, preparation for flights and delivery of aircraft to customers. Engineering work, flight testing and certification will remain in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich.
The project has symbolic significance for the German aviation industry. Deutsche Aircraft calls the D328eco the first new regional aircraft in the CS-25 category in over 20 years to be fully assembled in Germany. For Saxony, the gap is even longer - full-fledged aircraft manufacturing returns to the region after more than 60 years.
