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Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft Kingair Denali vs Cessna Grand Caravan Ex

The Beechcraft King Air 260, Beechcraft King Air Denali, and Cessna Grand Caravan EX occupy different turboprop niches. In category, the King Air 260 is a pressurized, twin‑engine business/utility turboprop optimized for corporate travel and faster point‑to‑point missions. The Denali is also a pressurized turboprop but as a newer‑generation, single‑engine design aimed at higher-end business use with modern systems and performance; certification and final specifications may vary by entry-into-service configuration. The Grand Caravan EX is a rugged, single‑engine utility turboprop, often unpressurized, valued for short/rough-field capability, cargo flexibility, and regional shuttle work. In range, the King Air 260 and Denali generally target longer business legs than the Grand Caravan EX, with typical published maximum ranges for the King Air 260 and Denali in the roughly 1,500–1,600+ nautical mile class depending on payload and reserves, while the Grand Caravan EX is typically around the 900–1,000 nautical mile class. For passenger capacity, the King Air 260 commonly seats about 7–9, the Denali is typically configured around 6–9, and the Grand Caravan EX is commonly configured up to about 9 passengers (with higher-density commuter layouts possible in some operations).

SpecBeechcraft King Air 260Beechcraft KingAir DenaliCessna Grand Caravan EX
Summary
Cockpit222
DOC / nm$ 4.30$ 4.08$ 3.15
Min Crew111
Total Seats81110
Flight RulesIFRIFRVFR
ManufacturerBeechcraftGE® AerospaceCessna
Aircraft NameKingAir 250KingAir DenaliGrand Caravan EX
CertificationFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASA
Max Range (nm)14201600964
DOC / nm / Seat$ 0.72$ 0.68$ 0.39
Max Cabin Seats8912
OEM VerificationVERIFIEDVERIFIEDVERIFIED
Useful Load (lbs)376032803332
Standard Cabin Seats678
Direct Operating Cost$ 1,333$ 1,111$ 614
Flight Deck (Base Spec)Rockwell Collins Pro Line FusionRockwell Collins Pro Line FusionGarmin G1000 NXi
Max Cruise Speed (ktas)310285195
Base Aircraft Price (USD)$6,450,000$4,150,000$2,695,000
Cabin
Cockpit222
Lavatory1 Flushing1 FlushingNo
Min Crew111
Total Seats81110
Max Cabin Seats8912
Lavatory LocationAFTAFT
Cabin Pressure (psi)6.55Un-Pressurized
Galley / RefreshmentNoNoNo
Standard Cabin Seats678
SL Cabin Altitude (ft)1529311065
Cargo DoorYes
Engine
FADECYesYes
ModelPT6A-52Catalyst™PT6A-140
TBO (hrs)36004000
Horsepower850867
Flat RatingISA + 37ISA + 24
No. of Engines111
Fuel Capacity (gal)544335
Dimensions
Length (ft)43.814.8641.6
Wingspan (ft)57.954.352.1
Cabin Width (ft)4.54.55.4
Cabin Height (ft)4.84.84.5
Cabin Length (ft)16.712.616.8
Overall Height (ft)14.84.6515.1
Cabin Width - Floor (ft)4.14.1
Cabin Length - Seating (ft)16.712.6
Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft)554832