Cape Air orders eight Cessna Grand Caravan EX for Montana fleet

Cape Air will acquire eight Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX aircraft, with the US commuter carrier planning to put them into service in Montana next year. Cessna's parent company, Textron Aviation, confirmed on 12 September that the airline had selected the Caravan EX for the eight-aircraft order.

The aircraft will replace the Tecnam P2012 Travellers Cape Air flies in Montana. The carrier expects its entire Montana operation to move to the Caravan fleet by the end of 2027. Chief executive Mike Migliore called the type a proven, dependable aircraft on 10 September, saying it will give passengers more flexibility when travelling with baggage, sporting equipment, work gear and other items. He described it as a good fit for the Montana operation.

Cape Air runs three flight networks: the largest in the northeastern United States, plus Montana and the Caribbean. Cessna 402Cs have long formed the core of its fleet. According to fleet-data provider Cirium, the airline operates 62 of the twin-piston aircraft. It began adding P2012s several years ago and at one point planned to order as many as 100. Cirium shows it has taken only 30 and has none on order. The airline also flies five Britten-Norman BN2 Islanders.

Cessna says the Caravan EX is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney PT6A-140 turboprop, cruises at up to 185kt (343km/h) and has a range of 912nm (1,689km). It can carry as many as 14 passengers. Cape Air has not said how it will configure its aircraft, though it has said the Caravans will be fitted with belly cargo pods to carry more luggage.