AIR Marshall Islands has taken delivery of its first Cessna 408 SkyCourier, the initial aircraft from a two-unit order placed in late 2024 with Textron Aviation. The twin-engine turboprop has been ferried into the Republic of the Marshall Islands and will be used to expand inter-island passenger services across the Pacific nation.
According to Textron Aviation, the airline selected the passenger variant of the SkyCourier, configured to carry up to 19 passengers. The type features separate crew and passenger doors and large cabin windows designed to improve boarding and in-flight comfort on short regional sectors.
The SkyCourier is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC engines driving McCauley C779 propellers. It is equipped with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics, has a cruise speed of more than 200 ktas and a maximum range of about 900 nautical miles, performance that suits dispersed island operations.
The second SkyCourier for AIR Marshall Islands is scheduled to follow under the existing purchase agreement, supporting a broader refleeting effort backed by US funding. The new aircraft are intended to enhance reliability and capacity on routes linking the country’s atolls and population centers.