The Cessna Grand Caravan is a single-engine turboprop that fills the space between a piston and a pressurized twin in the Dallas market, moving nine to fourteen passengers on short Texas hops where a King Air would be more aircraft than the load warrants. Rugged, widely available, and operable from the shorter strips that twin turboprops pass over.
Cessna builds the Grand Caravan 208B as a stretched version of the original 208, powered by a single Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A-140 engine. Nine to fourteen seats, 175-knot cruise, an unpressurized cabin, and 964 nautical miles of range. A large cargo door makes it one of the most versatile single-engine turboprops for mixed loads. Every Cessna Caravan & C208 we arrange flies with an operator certified under FAR Part 135, the FAA rules for on-demand, for-hire charter.
Performance and Cabin
- Category: Turboprop
- Manufacturer: Cessna (Textron Aviation)
- Year introduced: 1986
- Seating: 9 to 14
- Crew: 1
- Range: 964 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 186 knots
- Service ceiling: 25,000 feet
- Length: 41.6 feet
- Wingspan: 52.1 feet
- Height: 15.1 feet
- Baggage volume: 111 cubic feet
Why the Cessna Caravan & C208 Fits Dallas
The Grand Caravan’s single-engine operation and 175-knot cruise mean it is not the aircraft for a Permian Basin executive running on a schedule. It is the aircraft for a larger party making a short Texas hop into a community airport with a 4,000-foot runway, a supply run with passengers, or a medical transport operator working rural Texas routes. Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD) in south Dallas has two FBOs with no ramp or landing fees, and the Caravan’s field flexibility means it can continue to airports that nothing on this list can reach.
Fourteen seats at the Grand Caravan’s charter rate produce a per-seat cost that no King Air or jet in the category matches on a short sector. For a large group making a 90-minute Texas hop where speed is secondary, the economics are why Dallas clients book it.
The cargo door is the second angle. A mixed load of passengers and equipment, a group of hunters with gear, or a corporate team moving supplies alongside staff fits in a Caravan in a way that pressurized twins do not accommodate as easily. From the DFW metro to hunting camps, ranch properties, and rural Texas destinations, the Caravan’s loading geometry is the differentiator.
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Vetting Behind Every Trip
Every operator, aircraft, and crew goes through our internal due diligence before we present any options. Our internal standards meet or exceed what the FAA requires:
- FAR Part 135 charter operators for traditional private aircraft, or FAR Part 121 for airliner-size and group trips (or the foreign equivalent on international legs)
- Operator subscription to Wyvern and ARGUS reviewed where the operator participates; reports may be provided on request.
- Pilot experience and operator incident history reviewed before we recommend an aircraft.
- Fewer than 60 brokers worldwide hold Premium Wyvern Broker Member status, and Air Charter Advisors is one of them.
Charter Pricing Reference
Industry hourly rates for the Cessna Caravan & C208 run $1,500 to $2,200 per hour as of 8/2026. Actual quotes vary by operator, routing, positioning, and date.
The Grand Caravan quotes at the bottom of the Dallas turboprop band. On a short sector with a full cabin of fourteen, the per-seat cost is the lowest in the category and among the lowest of any charter aircraft in the Dallas market.
Other Turboprops Available
- Beechcraft Denali
- Beechcraft King Air 100
- Beechcraft King Air 250
- Beechcraft King Air 260
- Beechcraft King Air 360
- Beechcraft King Air C90GTx
The full turboprops category page lists every turboprop we arrange for Dallas departures.
Contact
For a quote on a Cessna Caravan & C208 charter from Dallas, TX, call +1 (888) 987-5387 or visit our contact page. For the vetting work behind every trip, see our safety page. To browse cross-category options for the same trip, visit the aircraft directory.
The hourly rates provided are estimates based on 2026 market data and are for informational purposes only. These figures are subject to change and do not constitute a final offer. Final pricing is dynamic and depends on real-time factors including, but not limited to, specific itinerary requirements, aircraft positioning (“ferry” fees), fuel price volatility, and current market availability. These estimates exclude all applicable taxes, de-icing, landing and handling fees, special event fees, international surcharges, overnight crew expenses, and premium catering. Please contact Air Charter Advisors directly for a firm, all-inclusive quote tailored to your specific travel needs.