How Deutsche Aircraft's D328eco Strategy is Revolutionizing Customer Experience in Aviation

Deutsche Aircraft's Unique Approach to Customer Service

Deutsche Aircraft is setting itself apart from other aircraft manufacturers by offering customers of its upcoming D328eco turboprop a "seamless, end-to-end" experience throughout the entire lifecycle of the aircraft. The company believes that a delayed service-entry date has actually worked to its advantage, allowing it to build resilience against the supply chain challenges that have troubled the aerospace industry.

Revised Timeline and Strategic Advantages

The German aircraft developer now targets the second half of this year for the D328eco's first test flight, with certification, deliveries, and entry into service planned for the fourth quarter of 2027 - a year later than previously anticipated. The final assembly line in Leipzig is scheduled to open in May.

"The additional lead time provided by our revised program schedule has enabled us to strengthen our industrial base," explains Anastasija Visnakova, Deutsche Aircraft's newly appointed chief commercial officer. "Final assembly line development, supplier integration and long-term planning are all aligned to avoid the challenges seen elsewhere in the industry."

Restructuring for Customer-Centric Excellence

Visnakova, who was promoted to chief commercial officer earlier this month after three years as vice president of sales and marketing, emphasizes: "In my new role, our priority is to ensure that every customer benefits from a unified, end-to-end experience - from initial engagement through the full lifecycle of the aircraft."

She continues: "We have restructured our commercial organization to bring sales, marketing, aftermarket, customer service and training under one umbrella, ensuring a seamless experience rather than a fragmented one. This is a major differentiator from traditional OEM setups."

The Three Pillars of Customer Experience

For Visnakova, "the ideal customer journey is one where an operator can order their aircraft, follow a transparent production and delivery process, enter service without delays and operate with confidence, thanks to proactive support across the entire lifecycle."

To achieve this vision, Deutsche Aircraft has designed the customer journey around three key pillars:

1. Integration - Bringing all customer-facing functions under one organizational structure
2. Predictability - Implementing predictive maintenance and global assistance tools
3. Readiness from day one - Adopting "customers on the wing from day one" as its guiding principle

This approach means that "the right training, spares, tools and data systems are in place ahead of entry into service," Visnakova explains.

Market Interest and Orders

Deutsche Aircraft has yet to announce any firm orders for the D328eco but reports signing "around 150" letters of intent for the aircraft and maintaining a "validated global commercial pipeline of approximately 600 units."

Berlin-based charter operator Private Wings, which already operates a fleet of original Dornier 328 turboprops, is the only publicly disclosed customer so far, having tentatively signed for five D328ecos in May 2023.

"Private Wings remains an important early program partner for us, and we continue to collaborate closely with the potential operators preparing for early D328eco service entry," says Visnakova. She adds that "various other undisclosed operators" have taken nearly all the first year's slots.

Deutsche Aircraft is seeing "growing interest" from operators in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and is in discussions with "commercial airlines, multi-role operators and government or special-mission users."

Sustainable Aviation Focus

The D328eco is a 40-seat stretched version of the Dornier 328 twin-turboprop. Its Pratt & Whitney PW127XT-S engines are designed to operate on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), including power-to-liquid (PtL) fuels. However, current global SAF volumes remain limited, with a maximum blend currently permitted at 50%.

"We recognize today's constraints - limited SAF supply, high cost and blend caps - but we are encouraged by accelerating investment and policy momentum worldwide," Visnakova acknowledges. "By the time we enter service, we expect meaningful progress both in production volumes and across regional markets."

She notes that the D328eco's next-generation propulsion system, advanced aerodynamics and weight-optimized structure make it "significantly more efficient than earlier turboprops," enabling it to "operate efficiently today on Jet A while seamlessly transitioning into higher SAF blends as supply grows."