Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Cessna Grand Caravan Ex vs Daher Kodiak 900
Commercial aircraft generally fall into three categories: regional, narrow-body, and wide-body. Regional jets and turboprops are designed for shorter routes and smaller markets, typically flying about 200 to 1,000 miles and carrying roughly 30 to 90 passengers; they prioritize frequency and access to smaller airports over long-range efficiency. Narrow-body airliners handle the bulk of domestic and short-to-medium international travel, commonly covering about 500 to 3,500 miles with around 120 to 240 passengers, balancing operating cost with flexibility on high-turnaround routes. Wide-body aircraft serve long-haul and high-demand markets, often capable of 4,000 to 9,000+ miles and seating about 250 to 400+ passengers, with larger cabins and cargo capacity that support intercontinental economics. At the extremes, small business jets may carry 4 to 19 passengers over 1,500 to 6,000 miles for point-to-point convenience, while very large wide-bodies can exceed 450 seats on dense routes but are less common due to airport, demand, and cost constraints.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Cessna Grand Caravan EX |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 3.15 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Cessna |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | Grand Caravan EX |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 964 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.39 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 12 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 3332 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 614 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 195 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $2,695,000 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 12 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | Un-Pressurized |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | No |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | — |
| Cargo Door | — | Yes |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PT6A-140 |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 867 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 24 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | 335 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 41.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 52.1 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 5.4 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.5 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 16.8 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 15.1 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 32 |