Just days after DDA Classic Airlines (formerly known as the Dutch Dakota Association) flew its last planned commercial passenger flight with its sole Douglas DC-3, the aircraft has been saved from retirement at the last minute. With the news being celebrated by vintage aircraft enthusiasts worldwide, the venerable airliner will continue to fly passengers, albeit on a limited basis, keeping the history of one of the most produced aircraft ever built alive for future generations in the Netherlands.

2024 was all set to be the final year of commercial flights for DC-3 PH-PBA (named ‘Princes Amalia’). In February 2024, it was revealed that regular passenger flights on the aircraft would come to an end at the end of the 2024 season, to the bitter disappointment of all those involved or who had an interest in the aircraft. The decision to end such flights was said to be based on a series of considerations that effectively rendered the continued operations of such a classic old airliner economically unviable.   

In an e-mail to supporters, issued by the DDA on February 12, 2024, it was revealed that the retirement of the DC-3 had become unavoidable. The increasing costs of hangarage, landing fees, and insurance had become prohibitive for a volunteer organization like DDA Classic Airlines that was unable to secure long-term financial support. Other factors that contributed to the decision to retire the DC-3 included the rising costs of fuel and the difficulty in finding maintenance volunteers.

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