Charter a Cessna 208 Grand Caravan

The Cessna 208 Grand Caravan is the world's most widely deployed single-engine turboprop utility aircraft - a platform that has defined the category since its introduction and accumulated over 3,000 deliveries across more than 100 countries since 1985. Safe Fly Aviation confirmed "the Cessna 208 Caravan: over 3,000 delivered across more than 100 countries." The Caravan prototype first flew on 9 December 1982 and received FAA type certification in October 1984. Business Air News confirmed "the 208B Grand Caravan first flew in 1990 and is a stretched variant powered by the PT6A-114A engine" with certification on 13 December 1989. The 208B adds four feet of fuselage over the original 208, increasing seating to 14 and payload to 3,675 lb. Business Air News confirmed "FedEx famously used early Cargomaster versions as its backbone for small-package delivery, proving the type's reliability in daily high-cycle operations." In December 2012 the upgraded Grand Caravan EX received FAA certification with the more powerful 867 shp PT6A-140 engine and Garmin G1000 NXi avionics. On 28 May 2020 an all-electric 208B powered by a MagniX Magni500 made its maiden flight, confirming the airframe as the development platform for next-generation electric turboprop conversion.

The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan is an unpressurised single-engine turboprop with high-wing configuration, fixed tricycle landing gear and a cabin that converts from 14-seat passenger transport to full cargo in under 30 minutes. Air Charter Service confirmed "the 208 Grand Caravan is powered by a single 675-horsepower Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A-114A turboprop engine" on the standard 208B, with the Grand Caravan EX upgrading to 867 shp PT6A-140. Charter prices start from approximately £600 per flight hour. For the full fleet see our private jet price guide or browse our complete fleet.

Why charter the Cessna 208 Grand Caravan?

• 14 passengers; 3,500+ lb useful load; cargo-passenger convertible in under 30 minutes; optional belly cargo pod (84 cu ft); the highest-capacity single-engine turboprop in the Private Jets UK fleet. AOPA confirmed the Grand Caravan EX "can carry up to 14 occupants and an optional cargo pod for greater capacity" and a "useful load of more than 3,500 pounds." Safe Fly Aviation confirmed "convert passenger to cargo layout in under 30 minutes" and the optional belly pod adds 84 cu ft. GlobalAir confirmed "the cabin of the 208B Grand Caravan offers flexible configurations, with seating for up to 14 passengers, or the option to convert to a cargo-only setup, holding up to 3,675 pounds of payload." The high-wing design provides a flat cabin floor at low step height for easy passenger boarding and cargo loading. Large cargo doors on the left side provide wide access for freight. For charter clients requiring 10 to 14 seats at single-engine turboprop rates, or a mixed passenger-cargo configuration on the same flight, the Grand Caravan provides the largest cabin in its class at the lowest turboprop rate;
• PT6A-114A (675 shp) or PT6A-140 (867 shp on EX); 3,600-hour TBO; 100 million PT6A fleet hours; the most proven turboprop engine in aviation history. CollectAirs confirmed "the PT6A is the most proven turboprop engine in aviation history with over 100 million flight hours accumulated across the fleet" and a 3,600-hour TBO. The PT6A-140 on the Grand Caravan EX provides an increase to 867 shp enabling AOPA-confirmed cruise of 185 kt with "improved hot-and-high performance, faster climb rate, and better takeoff performance at heavy weights." Business Air News confirmed the reliability that FedEx proved in "daily high-cycle operations" as its backbone for small-package delivery - commercial cargo freight demands higher engine reliability standards than any private charter specification. The PT6A's reverse-flow combustion design has an independent turbine section that can be separated from the compressor section in the field, enabling quick maintenance with minimal downtime. For charter clients who specify proven powerplant reliability above any other criterion, the PT6A's 100 million fleet hour record is the definitive answer;
• Fixed landing gear rated for grass, gravel, dirt and snow; Wipaire 8000 amphibious floats STC (March 1986); skis; skydive roll-up cargo hatch STC; TKS fluid ice protection; the most mission-flexible utility aircraft available for charter. Safe Fly Aviation confirmed "rugged fixed undercarriage rated for grass, gravel, dirt, snow" and "TKS fluid ice-protection system for all-weather IFR." Business Air News confirmed "it can also be fitted with floats and skis, and can be operated for skydiving with the left side cargo hatch converted to a roll up door." CollectAirs confirmed the Wipaire 8750 amphibious float installation and a premium of "$200,000-400,000" on amphibious aircraft "in high demand for bush, island, and resort operations." The fixed gear eliminates the maintenance and failure modes associated with retractable systems - particularly relevant on rough-field operations where FOD ingestion risk is highest. For charter clients who need a platform that can handle short grass strips, floatplane access to lakes, skydiving operations and IFR all-weather passenger transport on different days from the same aircraft, the Grand Caravan provides all these roles from a single airframe;
• 3,000+ delivered; 100+ countries; FedEx Cargomaster heritage; MagniX all-electric first flight May 2020; the definitive utility turboprop with 40 years of continuous production. Safe Fly Aviation confirmed over 3,000 deliveries across more than 100 countries since 1985. Business Air News confirmed FedEx "famously used early Cargomaster versions as its backbone for small-package delivery." Business Air News confirmed "on 28 May 2020 an all-electric powered Cessna 208B Grand Caravan made its maiden flight" powered by the MagniX Magni500 at 750 hp, confirming the 208B airframe as the platform selected for the most significant electric turboprop conversion programme in current development. Over 40 years of continuous production, the Grand Caravan has served every mission profile from remote humanitarian aid to commercial commuter airline to medevac to cargo to skydiving - a breadth of confirmed operational capability unavailable in any other aircraft at comparable charter rates;
• Garmin G1000 NXi with synthetic vision, ADS-B and advanced autopilot standard on Grand Caravan EX; IFR certified; 25,000 ft ceiling; 907-1,109 nm range from Cessna POH at max cruise and 18,000 ft respectively. Safe Fly Aviation confirmed "state-of-the-art Garmin G1000 NXi with synthetic vision, ADS-B Out/In, and advanced autopilot with ESP - standard on new Grand Caravan EX deliveries." The Cessna 208B POH confirmed 907 nm at max cruise (10,000 ft) and 1,109 nm at 18,000 ft. The 25,000 ft ceiling provides meaningful weather avoidance on European sectors. GlobalAir confirmed "a maximum altitude of 25,000 feet, ideal for operators needing to bypass adverse weather." For charter clients who specify current avionics, IFR capability and all-weather operations in a single-engine turboprop at commuter airline rates, the Grand Caravan EX provides it;
• Lowest charter rate for a 14-seat turboprop; per-person cost competitive with scheduled commuter airlines; the Cessna 208 defines value in the turboprop charter category. The Grand Caravan's charter rate of approximately £600-900/hr divided across 10 to 14 passengers brings the per-person cost to £45-90 per person per hour - comparable to or below scheduled commuter airline fares on many UK and European regional routes, without fixed schedules, baggage restrictions or transfers. For groups of 10 to 14 on short UK regional and European sectors where private charter costs need to compete with scheduled travel economics, the Grand Caravan provides the case for the switch to private aviation at genuinely competitive per-person rates.

Charter cost - Cessna 208 Grand Caravan prices from UK airports

Hourly rates run from approximately £600 to £900 - the lowest available for a 14-seat single-engine turboprop, reflecting the Grand Caravan's single PT6A engine operating cost, fixed landing gear simplicity and utility aircraft design philosophy. For groups of 8 to 14 on short UK regional and European sectors where per-person rate, short-field access and maximum capacity are the selection criteria, the Grand Caravan provides the best value in the Private Jets UK fleet.

Indicative one-way prices from UK airports:

• London to Edinburgh - from £900 (12 passengers, approximately 1 hour 30 minutes);
• Edinburgh to Stornoway - from £600 (12 passengers, approximately 55 minutes);
• London to Paris - from £900 (12 passengers, approximately 1 hour 30 minutes);
• Edinburgh to Inverness - from £600 (12 passengers, approximately 40 minutes);
• Manchester to Belfast - from £600 (12 passengers, approximately 45 minutes);
• London to Amsterdam - from £750 (12 passengers, approximately 1 hour 15 minutes);
• London to Dublin - from £750 (12 passengers, approximately 1 hour 15 minutes).

Empty Leg flights appear on repositioning routes. See our Empty Legs page for current availability.

Ideal routes for the Cessna 208 Grand Caravan

Best matched to short UK regional and European sectors where 14-seat capacity, short-field access, single PT6A turboprop reliability and the lowest available turboprop rate serve groups of 8 to 14:

• Scottish Highland, island and remote UK airstrips where fixed gear, short-field performance and the PT6A's reliability serve routes unavailable to larger turboprops and jets. Barra beach strip, Tiree, Campbeltown, Stornoway, Wick and remote Highland and island airfields are natural Grand Caravan territory. The fixed landing gear and high-wing configuration provide ground clearance over rough terrain that retractable-gear aircraft cannot safely operate on. For groups of 8 to 12 accessing Scottish island and Highland destinations at the lowest available multi-seat turboprop rate, the Grand Caravan's combination of 14-seat capacity and short-field capability has no competitor at comparable rates;
• UK regional sectors (Manchester to Belfast; Edinburgh to Inverness; London to Edinburgh) where 10 to 14-seat capacity provides per-person costs competitive with scheduled airline fares. For groups of 10 to 14 on short UK regional sectors, the Grand Caravan at £600-900/hr divides to £45-90 per person per hour - a range that competes directly with scheduled regional airline fares on many routes. Without airport queuing, checked baggage restrictions or fixed departure schedules, the Grand Caravan provides the economic case for switching from scheduled to private travel for groups at this size;
• Cross-Channel and short European sectors (London to Paris; London to Amsterdam; London to Dublin) where 12 to 14 seats at turboprop rates serve the largest group size in the Private Jets UK single-engine category. London to Paris (approximately 200 nm), London to Amsterdam (approximately 220 nm) and London to Dublin (approximately 280 nm) are well within the Grand Caravan's 907 nm range. At 162-185 kt cruise the Grand Caravan completes these sectors in 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 minutes. For groups of exactly 12 to 14 on cross-Channel sectors where the Quest Kodiak 100 (10 seats) is undersized, the Grand Caravan is the appropriate single-engine turboprop;
• Amphibious float operations (loch, river, coastal) where the Wipaire 8750 STC opens water access for groups of up to 12. On amphibious floats the Grand Caravan can land on Scottish lochs, Irish coastal inlets and European lake destinations unavailable to any land-only aircraft. CollectAirs confirmed Wipaire float installation on 208/208B variants. For charter clients whose destination has water access but no runway, or who want seaplane experience to a Scottish estate, the Grand Caravan on floats provides 12-seat capacity at the widest available single-engine turboprop with float certification;
• Mixed passenger-cargo and medevac missions where the convertible cabin and large cargo door enable roles unavailable in any pressurised twin or jet at comparable rates. Safe Fly Aviation confirmed "convert passenger to cargo layout in under 30 minutes." GlobalAir confirmed medevac as a primary role. For operators who need one aircraft for passenger charter on weekdays, cargo on weekends and medevac on call, the Grand Caravan's convertible cabin and proven medevac deployment record provides confirmed multi-role capability.

Cabin and in-flight experience

The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan cabin seats up to 14 passengers in high-density configuration, with standard charter seating of 11 to 13. The cabin is unpressurised, with a 25,000 ft service ceiling providing weather avoidance altitude. The high-wing configuration provides an excellent downward view for passengers. The flat floor at low step height enables easy boarding and cargo loading. A large cargo door on the left side provides wide access. Optional belly cargo pod adds 84 cu ft of additional hold capacity below the cabin floor without reducing passenger space. CollectAirs confirmed "large cargo doors, optional belly pod adds 84 cu ft." Safe Fly Aviation confirmed TKS fluid ice protection for all-weather IFR operations. Grand Caravan EX aircraft carry Garmin G1000 NXi with synthetic vision, ADS-B and advanced autopilot as standard.

• Cabin. Unpressurised; 11-14 passengers; flat floor; high-wing views; large cargo door;
• Cargo pod. Optional belly pod: 84 cu ft additional hold capacity;
• Conversion. Passenger to cargo in under 30 minutes; large left cargo door;
• Engine (208B). PT6A-114A (675 shp; 3,600 hr TBO);
• Engine (EX). PT6A-140 (867 shp; 3,600 hr TBO; improved hot-and-high);
• Avionics (EX). Garmin G1000 NXi; synthetic vision; ADS-B Out/In; advanced autopilot with ESP;
• Ice protection. TKS fluid ice protection; IFR certified;
• Float option. Wipaire 8750 amphibious; Wipline 8000 STC March 1986.

Technical specifications

Cessna 208 Grand Caravan vs similar aircraft

• Cessna 208 Grand Caravan vs Quest Kodiak 100. The Quest Kodiak 100 is a 10-seat single-engine turboprop at £700/hr with sub-700 ft STOL, Aerocet amphibious float capability and PT6A-34 at 750 shp. The Grand Caravan counters with 14 seats (vs 10), optional belly cargo pod, FedEx-proven PT6A reliability heritage, longer range (1,109 nm vs 1,005 nm Kodiak) and the widest available single-engine turboprop cabin in the fleet. The Kodiak counters with superior STOL performance and the amphibious float option without structural modification. For groups of 11 to 14, the Grand Caravan is the only option; for groups of up to 10 with STOL or float priority, the Kodiak is the selection;
• Cessna 208 Grand Caravan vs Piper Navajo Chieftain. The Navajo Chieftain is a 10-seat twin-piston at £600/hr with counter-rotating engines providing no-critical-engine twin safety. The Grand Caravan counters with 14 seats (vs 10), PT6A turboprop reliability (vs piston TIO-540), 25,000 ft ceiling (vs 26,300 ft Chieftain) and single-engine operating economy. For overwater European sectors where twin-engine policy is specified, the Chieftain's twin-engine redundancy is the selection argument; for maximum seat count at the lowest available turboprop rate, the Grand Caravan provides 14 seats at comparable rates;
• Cessna 208 Grand Caravan vs King Air 200. The King Air 200 is a pressurised twin turboprop at £1,200/hr with 35,000 ft ceiling, 297-310 kt cruise and PT6A-42 twin engines. The Grand Caravan counters with 14 seats at £600-900/hr (vs 9 seats at £1,200/hr), short-field and amphibious capability, and 40 years of PT6A operational reliability. For clients who specify pressurisation, twin-engine safety and 35,000 ft the King Air 200 is appropriate; for groups of 10 to 14 who want maximum seats at the lowest turboprop rate with short-field or amphibious access, the Grand Caravan is the choice.

Frequently asked questions - Cessna 208 Grand Caravan charter

How much does it cost to charter a Cessna 208 Grand Caravan?
Charter rates run from approximately £600 to £900 per flight hour. London to Edinburgh costs from £900 for 12 passengers. Edinburgh to Stornoway costs from £600. London to Paris costs from £900. For 12 passengers this represents a per-person cost of £75 per hour - competitive with scheduled commuter airline fares on many regional routes. All quotes from Private Jets UK are fully itemised with no hidden charges.

What is the difference between the Cessna 208 Caravan, 208B Grand Caravan and Grand Caravan EX?
The original 208 Caravan (1985) seats up to 9-10 passengers with a PT6A-114 engine. The 208B Grand Caravan (1990) adds 4 feet of fuselage for 14-seat capacity and uses the PT6A-114A at 675 shp. The Grand Caravan EX (certified December 2012) keeps the 208B airframe but upgrades to the PT6A-140 at 867 shp with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics, providing better hot-and-high performance, faster climb and improved cruise. For European charter the 208B and EX are the relevant variants.

Is the Cessna 208 Grand Caravan pressurised?
No - the Grand Caravan is unpressurised with a 25,000 ft service ceiling. The cabin altitude equals actual flight altitude above sea level. The aircraft is optimised for operations below 15,000 ft for passenger comfort. TKS fluid ice protection enables IFR operations in icing conditions despite the unpressurised cabin. For pressurised single-engine turboprop operations, the TBM series in the Private Jets UK fleet provides the alternative at higher rates.

Can the Cessna 208 Grand Caravan operate on water?
Yes - Wipaire 8750 amphibious floats are available under STC first certified March 1986. CollectAirs confirmed the float installation adds approximately 700 lb to empty weight. Amphibious Caravans command a premium of $200,000-400,000 and are "in high demand for bush, island, and resort operations." For UK operations, Scottish loch, coastal and river approaches are possible with appropriate float installation.

How many passengers can the Cessna 208 Grand Caravan carry?
Up to 14 occupants including pilot in maximum configuration. Standard charter seating is 11 to 13 passengers. AOPA confirmed "the Grand Caravan EX can carry up to 14 occupants." For skydiving operations the cargo hatch converts to a roll-up door under STC. The optional belly cargo pod adds 84 cu ft without reducing passenger capacity, allowing combined passenger-freight missions.