AIR.ONE

Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft King Air 360er vs Cessna Grand Caravan Ex

The Beechcraft King Air 260 and King Air 360ER are pressurized, twin‑engine turboprops in the light business/utility category, while the Cessna Grand Caravan EX is a larger, unpressurized single‑engine utility turboprop optimized for simple, rugged operations. On range, the King Air 360ER is the long‑leg option, designed for extended missions and typically offering roughly 1,500–1,800 nautical miles depending on payload and conditions. The King Air 260 generally sits below it, commonly around 1,200–1,700 nautical miles, again varying with load and reserves. The Grand Caravan EX’s range is usually shorter, often about 900–1,200 nautical miles, but it trades that for flexibility into shorter or rougher strips and lower operating complexity. For passenger capacity, both King Air models are typically configured for about 6–9 passengers in corporate layouts, with cabin comfort aided by pressurization. The Grand Caravan EX commonly carries more people in commuter configurations, often around 9–14 passengers, favoring high‑utilization regional transport over business‑class comfort.

SpecBeechcraft King Air 260Beechcraft King Air 360ERCessna Grand Caravan EX
Summary
Cockpit222
DOC / nm$ 4.30$ 4.37$ 3.15
Min Crew111
Total Seats81010
Flight RulesIFRIFRVFR
ManufacturerBeechcraftBeechcraftCessna
Aircraft NameKingAir 250KingAir 350ERGrand Caravan EX
CertificationFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASA
Max Range (nm)14202338964
DOC / nm / Seat$ 0.72$ 0.55$ 0.39
Max Cabin Seats8912
OEM VerificationVERIFIEDVERIFIEDVERIFIED
Useful Load (lbs)376065853332
Standard Cabin Seats688
Direct Operating Cost$ 1,333$ 1,324$ 614
Flight Deck (Base Spec)Rockwell Collins Pro Line FusionRockwell Collins Pro Line FusionGarmin G1000 NXi
Max Cruise Speed (ktas)310303195
Base Aircraft Price (USD)$6,450,000$8,750,000$2,695,000
Cabin
Cockpit222
Lavatory1 FlushingYes (Belted Optional)No
Min Crew111
Total Seats81010
Max Cabin Seats8912
Lavatory LocationAFTAFT
Cabin Pressure (psi)6.56.5Un-Pressurized
Galley / RefreshmentNoRefreshment CenterNo
Standard Cabin Seats688
SL Cabin Altitude (ft)15293
Cargo DoorOptionalYes
Galley LocationFWD
Engine
FADECYesYesYes
ModelPT6A-52PT6A-60APT6A-140
TBO (hrs)360036004000
Horsepower8501050867
Flat RatingISA + 37ISA + 10ISA + 24
No. of Engines111
Fuel Capacity (gal)544775335
Dimensions
Length (ft)43.846.741.6
Wingspan (ft)57.957.952.1
Cabin Width (ft)4.54.55.4
Cabin Height (ft)4.84.84.5
Cabin Length (ft)16.719.516.8
Overall Height (ft)14.814.415.1
Cabin Width - Floor (ft)4.14.1
Cabin Length - Seating (ft)16.719.5
Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft)557132