Cape Air to swap Tecnam P2012s for Cessna Grand Caravan EX fleet in Montana

Regional carrier Cape Air has ordered eight Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX turboprops from Textron Aviation, with the aircraft slated to begin serving the airline’s Montana routes next year and to fully replace its Tecnam P2012 Travellers there by the end of 2027.

The move marks a notable pivot for the Hyannis, Massachusetts-based commuter operator, which had once envisioned ordering up to 100 P2012s several years ago. According to fleet-data provider Cirium, Cape Air has taken delivery of just 30 of the Italian-built type and has none remaining on order.

“The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is a proven, dependable aircraft that will provide additional flexibility for passengers travelling with baggage, sporting equipment, work gear and other essential items,” Cape Air chief executive Mike Migliore said on 10 September. He added that the type is “a great fit” for the Montana operation.

Textron Aviation, the Cessna parent within Textron Inc., confirmed the eight-aircraft order on 12 September. Textron (TXT) — an aerospace and defense conglomerate whose portfolio also spans Bell, Textron Systems and eAviation — saw its shares at $79.55 in recent trading, up 0.75% from a prior close of $78.96, valuing the company at roughly $14.3 billion.

The Grand Caravan EX is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney PT6A-140 turboprop, cruises at up to 185kt (343km/h) and offers 912nm (1,689km) of range, per Cessna. While the type can seat up to 14 passengers, Cape Air has not disclosed its planned cabin configuration. The airline says it will fit the aircraft with belly cargo pods to expand luggage capacity — a key driver behind the switch.

Cape Air will deploy the Caravans on routes linking Billings, Havre, Glasgow, Glendive, Sidney and Wolf Point. Montana is one of three separate networks the carrier operates, alongside its largest in the US Northeast and another in the Caribbean.

Elsewhere, the carrier’s fleet remains anchored by 62 Cessna 402C twin-pistons, per Cirium, supplemented by five Britten-Norman BN2 Islanders.

What to watch

• Delivery timing of the first Grand Caravan EX airframes ahead of the planned 2026 Montana entry into service.
• Progress toward Cape Air’s stated target of completing the Montana transition by end-2027.
• Any disclosure on cabin layouts and cargo pod configurations for the new aircraft.
• Whether the P2012 fleet is redeployed to the Northeast or Caribbean networks, or retired, and any further Textron Aviation orders.

Source: original release