Textron delivers 1st passenger SkyCourier

On 23 May 2023, Textron Aviation announced it has delivered its very first passenger-configured Cessna 408 SkyCourier. The aircraft, N971LA (408-0012), was delivered to Western Aircraft, which will operate it for its Lanai Air-brand. The Cessna was already ferried to Western Aircraft's base at Boise (ID) on 29 April 2023, where it will be readied for entry into service.

Lanai Air is based at Lana'i and offers luxury flights to other Hawaiian islands. It currently operates a fleet of PC-12s for this. Western Aircraft itself is also a PC-12 operator but also flies with Cessna 208s and Cessna Citations.

Photo by Textron Aviation.

Cessna announced it has received an order from new regional carrier Aerus from Mexico

The start-up placed an order for four Cessna 208 Grand Caravan EXs and two Cessna 408 SkyCouriers. Three of the Grand Caravan EXs have already been handed-over and Aerus is planning to launch flights out of Monterey in the first quarter of next year.
The order for the SkyCourier is the first order for Cessna for the passenger-version of the Cessna 408. So far, the manufacturer has logged 50 orders from FedEx and one from Gum Air of Surinam for the freighter-variant. FedEx also holds options on another 50 SkyCouriers.
The Cessna 408 SkyCourier took to the skies for the first time on 17 May 2020 and the first aircraft was delivered to FedEx on 9 May 2022. FedEx has outsourced the flying of the Cessna 408 to Mountain Air Cargo and Empire Airlines. In total, five SkyCouriers have been delivered so far.
Illustration by Cessna.

 

Textron Aviation unveils new large-utility turboprop, the Cessna SkyCourier; FedEx Express signs as launch customer for up to 100 aircraft

WICHITA, Kan. (Nov. 28, 2017) – Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced its new twin-engine, high-wing, large-utility turboprop – the Cessna SkyCourier 408. FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company and longtime Textron Aviation customer, has signed on as the launch customer for up to 100 aircraft, with an initial fleet order of 50 cargo aircraft and options for 50 more. Entry into service for the clean-sheet design Cessna SkyCourier is planned for 2020.

“With our depth of expertise and proven success in new product development, we were eager to work directly with a world-class company like FedEx Express to jointly develop the Cessna SkyCourier,” said Scott Ernest, president and CEO of Textron Aviation. “The aircraft will fulfill a gap in this market segment with its superior performance and low operating costs in combination with the cabin flexibility, payload capability and efficiency only a clean-sheet design can offer.”