The aircraft was introduced just as an older generation of feederliners was becoming too old to maintain economically, and few other new aircraft designs of its size were ready for purchase; the ATR-42 entered service a year later, while most other designs (Dornier 328, Fokker 50, etc.) were only started in response to the success of the Dash 8. To date, over 1000 Dash 8s have been delivered. In April 2008, Bombardier announced that production of the 100, 200, and 300 series Dash 8s would be ended, leaving the Q400 as the only Dash 8 still in production.