FedEx SkyCourier deliveries ahead of schedule

The Cessna 408 SkyCourier program launched with great enthusiasm in November 2017 with an order from FedEx for fifty aircraft and an option for fifty more. The aircraft first took to the skies in May 2020 and, over the next two years during its certification stage, three test aircraft amassed more than 2,100 flight hours prior to receiving FAA type certification on March 11, 2022 . One day later, FedEx took delivery of its first aircraft N408FE (MSN 408-0003), which was ferried to Kinston Regional Jetport (ISO) in N.C., and transferred to its operator, Mountain Air Cargo. The company operates a fleet of FedEx-owned ATR72s, ATR42s and Cessna 208 Caravans. Two other FedEx SkyCouriers have since joined the Mountain Air Cargo fleet in 2022: N714FX (MSN 408-0005) in September, and N743FX (MSN 408-0008) in late December. On Jan. 3, N408FE entered revenue service, operating five weekly round trips between Tallahassee (TLH) and Orlando (MCO). On Jan. 18, N714FX arrived in Tallahassee, where it appears to have taken over for N408FE on the TLH-MCO pairing, as of Jan. 23. N408FE has not flown since Jan. 20 and is expected to be reassigned to another route. Three additional SkyCouriers — N708FX (MSN 408-0004), N734FX (MSN 408-0006) and N738FX (MSN 408-0007) — are nearing entry to service with Empire Airlines. Overall, SkyCourier deliveries are ahead of schedule. When we review the FedEx Stat Book from Q4 of fiscal 2022, the express carrier was only anticipating delivery of one aircraft with an additional eleven deliveries in fiscal 2023. The FedEx Stat Book from Q2 2023 reports that five aircraft were delivered in fiscal 2022, with an additional seven to be delivered in fiscal 2023 twelve in fiscal 2024, twelve in fiscal 2025 and the final fourteen in fiscal 2026, bringing the total SkyCouriers in operation to fifty. While deliveries continue, we will wait to see if FedEx chooses to exercise its additional fifty options. Potential SkyCourier operators Mountain Air Cargo and Empire Airlines are not expected to operate all fifty SkyCouriers, so we began to explore where these aircraft may potentially land. Things get interesting when we dig into the FAA Part 135 registry. It appears that MSN 408-0009 will soon wear the registration N408KA, registered to Honolulu-based Kamaka Air. Cargo Facts Consulting was unable to reach Kamaka for comment by press time. Kamaka Air operates a fleet of six Garmin G1000-equipped, Cessna 208B Caravans, which would ease the transition to the SkyCourier. FedEx operators ASL (Europe) and MorningStar (Canada) are also potential operators for the SkyCouriers. In their British Columbia Feeder Network, MorningStar has historically operated multiple flights a day to the same destination, likely due to the volume of material being transferred. With a payload more than double that of the 208B Caravan, the SkyCourier could be a solid solution for this market. The SkyCourier has not received a Type Certificate from either Transport Canada or EASA as of press time. The SkyCourier program received a major boost with a December 2022 order from Mexican startup Aerus for two of its passenger variants. The aircraft still has a long way to go to catch its sibling, the Caravan, with 3,000 delivered as of Jan. 13 . As more SkyCouriers enter service, we hope the aircraft proves to be a cargo workhorse that fills a niche between the Caravan and the ATRs; however, with an estimated price tag of $6.85 million , will operators be willing to give it a chance?

FedEx SkyCourier deliveries ahead of schedule

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