Massachusetts-based Cape Air has ordered eight Cessna turboprop aircraft to support its regional operations in Montana.
The carrier said it selected the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX to replace the Tecnam P2012 Traveller, which currently serves Cape Air’s Montana network. The first of the new Grand Caravans will enter service in Montana in 2027, the airline said, and the fleet transition should be complete by the end of that year.
The airplanes will be equipped with a belly cargo pod, providing significantly increased baggage and storage capacity.
“The communities we serve in Eastern Montana are unique, and we’re proud to continue investing in air service that meets their needs,” Mike Migliore, Cape Air’s president and CEO, said in a news release. “The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is a proven, dependable aircraft that will provide additional flexibility for passengers traveling with baggage, sporting equipment, work gear, and other essential items. It is a great fit for our Montana operation and reinforces our long-term commitment to the communities we serve.”
The new aircraft will fly Cape Air’s routes connecting Billings with Havre, Glasgow, Glendive, Sidney, and Wolf Point.
The P2012 Travellers will remain in service as the Grand Caravan is phased in, officials said.
Cape Air is headquartered in Hyannis, Massachusetts, and operates short-haul flights in the Northeast, eastern Montana, and the eastern Caribbean.
