Cape Air to replace Montana fleet with eight Cessna Grand Caravans

Cape Air, a major US regional airline, has announced plans to replace its Tecnam P2012 Traveller fleet in eastern Montana with eight new Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX turboprop aircraft. The order was placed with Textron Aviation, and the airline expects all eight aircraft to be delivered by the end of 2027.

The transition will include a period where the current Tecnam aircraft continue to provide service. The new Cessna models are expected to offer increased capacity and flexibility, as they can carry up to 14 passengers compared to the nine-passenger capacity of the Tecnam. To better serve the specific needs of Montana communities, the aircraft will be equipped with special belly cargo pods to accommodate extra baggage, sports equipment, and freight.

Cape Air, founded in 1989, operates more than 300 daily flights under the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, connecting 34 cities across the United States and the Caribbean.