Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. company, has bolstered its position as the leader of the worldwide general aviation market with a number of noteworthy first quarter turboprop deliveries. Deliveries from the well-respected Cessna Caravan line continue to fulfill roles for multiple missions, ranging from flight training to tourism, commuter airlines and cargo carriers.

Cessna Grand Caravan - Commuter Airlines

  • Mokulele Airlines, based in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii purchased two new Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft to assist them with increased passenger loads for inter-island flights. The addition will allow them to increase their daily flights by 20 percent. "We made the decision to purchase two additional Cessna Grand Caravans aircraft to accommodate increased passenger numbers," said Ron Hansen, CEO of Mokulele Airlines. "We're currently offering about 80 flights per day, and the new aircraft will allow us to offer more than 100 flights per day between Oahu, Maui, Lanai, Molokai and the Big Island."

  • Peru based Movil Air added to their airborne capacity by ordering two new Caravan aircraft. The new Caravan aircraft will perform tourist flights over the famous Nazca Lines in southern Peru.

"The Cessna Caravan continues to be well received in markets in many different parts of the world," said Lannie O'Bannion, business leader for the Caravan series. "We have manufactured over 2,000 Caravan aircraft, and you can see them in service in commuter airlines, tourism, cargo missions, and obviously for personal recreation - the available choices in configurations and interiors, along with the rugged performance capabilities are what go into making the Caravan line truly unique."

Airlines operating in Russia have seen the value and versatility of Cessna aircraft, particularly the Grand Caravan model. Cessna 208 aircraft will be a more frequent sight for regional airline passengers on many in-country flight routes.

  • Tatarstan Airlines of Kazan, Tatarstan in Russia will take delivery of 15 Grand Caravans this year to add to their commuter fleet. Tatarstan Airlines serves locations in Asia, Europe, and Africa.

  • Tomsk Avia airlines based in Tomsk, Oblast in Russia purchased three Caravan aircraft for their commuter fleet, set to deliver this year, which allows them to extend their service to Novosibirsk and Nizhnevartovsk.

  • PANH Airlines in the central Russian Republic of Buryatia took delivery of three Grand Caravan aircraft in the first quarter. The airline has commenced service to airports in Kurumkan, Kryen, and Oka. The airline already serves airports in Irkstuk and Ulan-Ude.

  • SKOL airlines will take three Caravan aircraft for their Krasnoyarsk-based operations. The company deals primarily with charter business throughout Siberia.

"Regional airlines are discovering that the Caravan is an incredibly reliable, well-engineered aircraft; durable enough to run commuter routes day after day, and versatile enough to meet the mission requirements of the owner/operator," said Pana Poulios, director of aircraft sales for Europe and Russia. "It certainly is a good sign that commuter airlines are taking note of the Caravan as an efficient, powerful tool that will make additional flight routes economically possible."

Contributed by Cessna Aircraft Company