The Cessna SkyCourier has reached a new milestone with the recent delivery of the first aircraft into the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). The 19‑passenger variant delivered to AIR Marshall Islands Inc. (AMI) is equipped with the optional passenger‑to‑freighter conversion kit, enabling the aircraft to transition between full passenger and full cargo configurations. The delivery marks a significant milestone in strengthening essential air service across the country.
With communities comprised of widely dispersed islands, regional air service plays an important role in supporting commerce, travel and vital freight transport in the region. The SkyCourier's flexible cabin configurations and strong runway performance will help AMI streamline inter-island services.
“Built with customer needs and operational efficiency at the forefront, the Cessna SkyCourier provides a dependable platform to support consistent, day‑to‑day operations,” said Juan Escalante, vice president, SkyCourier sales. “The aircraft was designed for operators like AIR Marshall Islands who require adaptability and unparalleled performance across a wide variety of missions.”
Based in the capital, Majuro, AIR Marshall Islands is a commercially operated airline owned by the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. With an additional SkyCourier expected to deliver this year, AMI selected the aircraft to enhance connectivity and expand services throughout the nation’s atolls and outer islands.
The SkyCourier’s high payload capability and versatile design will allow AMI to transport both passengers and cargo more efficiently, including essential goods such as food, medical supplies, mail and other critical freight.Captain Albon Jelke, general manager & CEO of AIR Marshall Islands, Inc.
“The delivery of our Cessna SkyCourier represents a significant milestone for AIR Marshall Islands (AMI) and its mission to provide dependable air transportation across the Republic of the Marshall Islands,” said Captain Albon Jelke, general manager & CEO of AIR Marshall Islands, Inc. “The SkyCourier’s high payload capability and versatile design will allow AMI to transport both passengers and cargo more efficiently, including essential goods such as food, medical supplies, mail and other critical freight.”
The twin-engine, high-wing Cessna SkyCourier turboprop offers a combination of performance and lower operating costs for air freight, commuter and special mission operators around the world. The Cessna SkyCourier is offered in two variants—the freighter and the passenger—along with optional kits that allow the aircraft to be configured from passenger to freighter, or in a Combi configuration that accommodates up to nine passengers while carrying freight.
The freighter variant is sized to handle up to three LD3 shipping containers with a payload capacity of 6,000 pounds, while the 19‑passenger variant features large cabin windows for natural light and views. Both versions offer single‑point pressure refueling to enable faster turnarounds and feature two crew doors and a large side door used for cargo loading or passenger boarding, depending on the configuration.
The SkyCourier is powered by two wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC turboprop engines and features the McCauley Propeller C779, a heavy-duty 110-inch aluminum four-blade propeller, which is full feathering with reversible pitch, designed to enhance the performance of the aircraft while hauling tremendous loads. The SkyCourier is operated with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics and has a maximum cruise speed of more than 200 ktas and a maximum range greater than 900 nautical miles.