The Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) has temporarily grounded seven De Havilland Canada Dash 8-Q400 turboprops flown by regional operator SkyAlps.
According to ENAC, the partial fleet grounding came after a team of its inspectors attended the SkyAlps headquarters between February 26 and 28, 2025.
During an audit, inspectors checked documents and inspected aircraft where upon they discovered several non-conformities emerged.
“The discrepancies highlighted the existence of deficiencies in the aircraft maintenance certifications with respect to the flight safety regulatory requirements set by EU Regulation 1321/2012,” ENAC said.
Additionally, a technician responsible for aircraft maintenance was found not to be compliant with regulations and subsequently banned from accessing airports where SkyAlps operates.
The seven Dash 8s, which are registered in Malta, are among a fleet of 14 SkyAlps aircraft, however only eight are active, leaving the airline currently with just one plane.
“For these aircraft, the return to service may take place after completing the appropriate corrective actions,” ENAC said.
The regulator added that it was in close contact with the carrier’s technical staff and is monitoring developments with a view to returning the aircraft to operation promptly.
According to ch-aviation, SkyAlps operate to 22 destinations across 10 countries and is based in Bolzano, Italy.
The airline links European cities in Germany, Belgium, Denmark and multiple Italian locations with its base at Bolzano Airport (BZO) in the Alps.
According to the Sky Alps website, the airline’s entire fleet is made up of Dash 8-Q400 aircraft, which can transport up to 78 passengers.
Previously, SkyAlps acquired four Dash 8-Q400 aircraft that were previously flown by the now defunct airline, Air Berlin.
