GAMair, an Australian-based air carrier that specialises in maintenance operations and air charter services, is retiring its Do228-200 fleet after 21 years of service. The fleet conducted tours, supported FIFO operations, and ran freight operations.
Dornier 228 origins
A privately held German aviation manufacturer, Dornier Flugzeugwerke, originally manufactured the fleet. After returning to Germany in 1954, the manufacturer re-established itself and created the Dornier Do 27 and Do 28, short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) aircraft.
The Dornier 228 came later as an improved design with a much quieter turboprop engine. It is a twin-engine aircraft for general purposes, capable of carrying up to 19 passengers and a payload of up to 1,800 kg, or five Euro pallets of cargo, on short-haul journeys, according to Air Charter Service.
Like its predecessors, the Dornier 228 is a STOL aircraft, meaning it can operate on shorter runways and rougher terrain. Its supercritical wing enables higher lift at slower speeds.
GAMair first introduced its Do228-200 fleet in 2005 and continued to use it as a multi-purpose aircraft, with one of its most recent endeavours operating on behalf of Team Global Express in Australia.
The GAM Group commented on its Facebook page,
“Over the years, the Dorniers have been instrumental in building our operational capability, supporting our growth and contributing to the success of GAM.”
The remainder of the fleet is sold
GAMair sold its remaining Do228-200 fleet to multiple aviation companies. Three went to an undisclosed operator in Kenya, and the rest went to KASAS, as GAM Group CEO Carl Jepsen confirmed.
The fleet’s retirement coincided with the acquisition of three Beech 1900D(F)s from Aero Vip in April 2026, and the company has since obtained two more for freight purposes.
GAM Group commented,
“To everyone who has flown, maintained, operated or supported these remarkable aircraft over the past 21 years – thank you. You’ve all been part of an incredible chapter in GAM’s history.”
GAMair is ending two decades of extensive service and regional operations with the Do228-200 fleet.
What do you think about GAMair retiring its Dornier fleet? Let us know in the comments!
