[REVISION HISTORY]

Deutsche Aircraft D328eco development and production

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-01 17:19 UTC → 2026-10-08 08:41 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Deutsche Aircraft has progressed through key development and manufacturing stages for its D328eco regional aircraft. In early September 2026, the company completed the first phase of flight testing for its new landing gear system using a legacy D328 testbed. This followed successful taxi tests and included a transition to a new supplier to secure full intellectual property rights for the landing gear architecture. By late September 2026, the company officially opened its Final Assembly Line (FAL) at Leipzig/Halle Airport, marking the transition of the D328eco program from development to serial production. The facility represents an investment of over 100 million euros and covers a 60,500-square-meter footprint, including a logistics center, administrative headquarters, and a flight-readiness hangar. The plant is expected to create approximately 250 direct jobs and has an annual production capacity of up to 48 aircraft. This project marks the return of aircraft manufacturing to the Saxony region for the first time in over 60 years and is supported by approximately 3.2 million euros from the Free State of Saxony through the Federal-State GRW programme. In early October 2026, Jungheinrich handed over a newly constructed automated logistics center at the Leipzig/Halle site to support D328eco production. As part of a digital, paperless “Factory 4.0” initiative, the center integrates a PowerCube small-parts storage system with an AutoVNA automated very narrow aisle warehouse. This system is designed to reduce component lead times and minimize manual transport by linking small parts and larger pallets directly to the assembly lines. With these advancements, the site is now expected to create between 250 and 350 jobs. The D328eco is a modernized, stretched evolution of the Dornier 328 designed to carry up to 40 passengers. It features Pratt & Whitney Canada PW12XT-S engines, a Garmin G5000 Prime flight deck, and compatibility with sustainable aviation fuels. While the Leipzig site will manage assembly, customer deliveries, and flight-readiness activities, engineering, certification, and flight testing will remain centered at the company’s site in Oberpfaffenhofen. The first aircraft assembled at the new facility is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2027, with serial passenger production slated to begin in 2028.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.